OCT  3  9  1920 


Division  BX838I 

Section  .W5A2. 


MeWis-t  Episcopal   church  •  °B^^0Wniil^ 


Western. 


■< — 


THE 


RISE  OF  METHODISM 
IN  THE  WEST 


BEING 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  WEST- 
ERN CONFERENCE 
1800-1811 


■)  1920 


cal  %m 


EDITED,  WITH  NOTES  AND 
INTRODUCTION,  BY 

WILLIAM  WARREN  SWEET 

Professor  of  History,  Del'auw 
University 


THE  METHODIST  BOOK  CONCERN 
NEW  YORK  CINCINNATI 

SMITH  &  LAMAR 
NASHVILLE        DALLAS  RICHMOND 


Copyright,  1920 

BY 

Smith  &  Lamar 
and 

The  Methodist  Book  Concern 


TO  THE  MEMORY 
OF  MY  FATHER  AND  MOTHER 


PREFACE. 


Tub  manuscript  Journal  of  the  old  Western  Conference 
is  the  property  of  the  Ohio  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  has,  for  the  past  number  of  years, 
been  deposited  in  the  Library  of  Ohio  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity. The  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference  covers  nine- 
ty-seven pages  of  the  manuscript  volume,  while  the  latter 
part  of  the  volume  is  given  over  to  the  Journals  of  the 
Ohio  Conference  from  1812  to  1826,  inclusive.  None  of 
these  Journals  have  before  been  published.  Unfortunately 
Methodism  has  not  been  careful  of  her  historical  docu- 
ments, and  it  is  hoped  that  the  appearance  of  this  docu- 
ment may  encourage  the  publication  of  others. 

In  many  respects  the  Journal  of  the  Western  Confer- 
ence is  the  most  important  historical  document  relating 
to  the  establishment  of  Methodism  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  The  heart  of  Methodism  lies  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley;  there  live  the  bulk  of  her  membership,  there  she 
has  performed  her  greatest  achievements,  and  there  per- 
haps lies  her  most  brilliant  future.  For  these  reasons,  if 
for  no  others,  the  materials  in  this  volume  deserve  pub- 
lication. 

Outside  of  the  Editor,  two  others  have  shown  particular 
interest  in  this  book,  and  to  them  especial  thanks  are  due. 
The  first  is  Rev.  Dr.  W.  E.  Arnold,  of  Fort  Thomas,  Ky. ; 
the  second  is  Mr.  George  H.  Maxwell,  of  Boston,  whose 
interest  in  Methodist  history  is  quite  largely  responsible 
for  this  publication. 

Greencastle,  Ind.,  October  2,  1919. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/riseofmethodismiOOmeth 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PART  I.  INTRODUCTION. 

Paoe. 

Preface    5 

Chapter  I. 

The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider  Over  the  Mountains   11 

Chapter  II. 

The  Western  Conference,  1800-1811   23 

Chapter  III. 

The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider   38 

Chapter  IV. 

The  Circuit  Rider  as  a  Factor  in  Frontier  Society   58 

PART  II.    THE  JOURNAL. 

I.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1800   73 

II.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1801   75 

III.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1802   80 

IV.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1803   84 

V.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1804   92 

VI.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1805   100 

VII.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1806   110 

VIII.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1807   123 

IX.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1808   138 

X.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1809   153 

XI.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1810   173 

XII.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1811   191 


PART  I. 
INTRODUCTION. 


CHAPTER  L 

THE  COMING  OF  THE  CIRCUIT  RIDER  OVER  THE 
MOUNTAINS. 

1782-1800. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  dates  from  the  Christ- 
mas Conference  which  met  in  Baltimore  on  December  27, 
1784.1  The  American  Revolution  had  closed  and  the 
Treaty  of  Paris  had  just  been  signed.  John  Wesley,  al- 
though a  consistent  supporter  of  the  British  during  the 
American  war  and  an  opponent  of  the  rebelling  colonists,2 
yet  when  the  war  was  over  was  wise  enough  to  see  that 
it  would  be  best  for  all  concerned  to  separate  the  Ameri- 
can societies  from  the  English  Conference,  and  according- 
ly sent  over  to  America,  toward  the  end  of  1784,  Dr.  Thom- 
as Coke  and  two  other  English  preachers  to  supervise  the 
organization  of  the  new  American  Church.  The  events  of 
the  Christmas  Conference  are  familiar  to  all  Methodists. 
Francis  Asbury,  the  only  English  Methodist  preacher  who 
had  remained  in  America  throughout  the  Revolution,  was 
named  by  Mr.  Wesley  as  General  Superintendent  for  the 
American  Church.  Asbury,  however,  refused  to  accept 
the  place  solely  on  Mr.  Wesley's  appointment,  but  only 
after  election  by  the  preachers. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 


1Jesse  Lee,  "A  Short  History  of  the  Methodists  in  the  United 
States  of  America;  Beginning  in  1766,  and  Continued  Till  1809" 
(Baltimore,  1810),  pages  69,  70,  91-93.  Wesley's  letter  setting 
forth  his  plan  for  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  America  will 
be  found  in  "Minutes  of  the  Annual  Conferences  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  the  Years  1773-1828"  (New  York,  1840), 
page  21. 

2For  John  Wesley's  attitude  toward  the  American  Revolution, 
see  John  Wesley's  "Journal,"  Vol.  VI.;  reviewed  in  American 
Historical  Review,  Vol.  XXI.,  pages  346-348. 


12 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


copal  Church  there  were  not  more  than  14,000  Methodists 
in  America.  The  largest  proportion  of  the  membership 
was  in  the  Southern  States.  Between  1777  and  1783  there 
was  but  one  appointment  north  of  some  parts  of  New  Jer- 
sey, while  during  the  Revolution  practically  every  preach- 
er received  into  the  ministry  by  the  Methodists  was  from 
the  South.3  Methodism  as  yet  had  made  no  progress  in 
New  England,  though  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and 
New  Jersey  it  had  gained  a  foothold  and  there  were  flour- 
ishing societies  especially  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York. 

After  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  in  1763, 
a  few  backwoodsmen,  especially  from  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas,  began  to  find  their  way  over  the  mountains  into 
what  is  now  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  First  came  the 
hunters,  Daniel  Boone  and  his  kind,  to  be  followed  by 
Sevier  and  Robertson  and  their  kind.  By  the  outbreak  of 
the  Revolution  a  number  of  English  settlements  had 
sprung  up  on  the  Tennessee  and  the  Cumberland,  as  well 
as  in  Western  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.  These  fron- 
tiersmen took  part  in  the  War  for  Independence  under 
George  Rogers  Clark,  while  their  settlements,  under  the 
stress  of  Indian  wars  and  dangers  from  frontier  condi- 
tions, were  largely  self-governing  and  self-sustaining.  Al- 
together it  was  a  rude  and  shifting  population,  made  up 
largely  of  game  hunters  and  Indian  fighters  who  had  set- 
tled this  Western  region.  Many  of  them  never  took  per- 
manent root  in  the  region,  but  moved  on  westward,  farther 
into  the  wilderness,  and  the  descendants  of  those  who 
fought  under  Clark  at  Vincennes  or  at  King's  Mountain 
"are  as  likely  to  be  found  in  the  Rockies  as  in  the  Alle- 
ghenies." 

With  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  tide  of  westward 


3DeVinne,  "The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Slavery," 
pages  11-13;  also  "Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  I.,  for  the  years 
indicated. 


The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider. 


L3 


immigration  greatly  increased.  At  first  they  came  mostly 
into  Kentucky,  and  those  who  now  came  were  of  a  differ- 
ent character  from  the  pre-Revolutionary  pioneers.  These 
came  to  find  homes,  and  were  often  representative  of  the 
gentry  of  the  seaboard.  The  long  war  had  left  them  in 
straitened  circumstances,  and  now  they  were  looking  to- 
ward this  new  and  fertile  country  as  a  means  of  more  eas- 
ily staying  their  impending  ruin.  Such  was  the  composi- 
tion of  the  immigrants  who  within  a  dozen  years  following 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  completely  swamped  the  orig- 
inal settlers.4  The  pre-Revolutionary  pioneers  had  been 
slow  to  establish  cultural  institutions,  such  as  schools  and 
churches;  but  the  new  settlers  brought  with  them  their 
institutions,  their  educational  and  religious  ideals,  and  it 
was  not  long  after  their  coming  until  churches  and  schools 
began  to  spring  up  in  the  wilderness. 

Both  the  organization  and  doctrine  of  the  Methodists 
were  well  suited  to  the  frontier.  The  circuit  system  which 
John  Wesley  devised  and  put  into  operation  in  England 
was  brought  to  America  by  Asbury.  When  Asbury  came 
to  America  he  was  urged  to  settle  down  in  the  centers  of 
population ;  but  he  was  so  thoroughly  saturated  with  Wes- 
ley's plan  of  organization  that  he  would  listen  to  no 
other.5  So  Asbury  himself  became  an  itinerant  preacher, 
as  all  the  Methodist  preachers  in  America  in  that  early 
day.  The  circuit  system  meant  that  a  preacher  served  not 
one  community,  but  a  whole  group  of  communities.  These 
circuits  varied  in  size.  In  the  newer  countries,  where 
settlements  were  much  scattered  and  far  between,  they 
covered  many  square  miles  of  territory,  and  the  preacher 
occupied  from  four  to  six  weeks  in  making  the  rounds  of 
the  circuit.    Nor  was  he  particular  where  he  conducted 

'Theodore  Roosevelt,  "The  Winning  of  the  West,"  Vol.  III., 
pages  63-71. 

5Ezra  Squire  Tipple,  "Francis  Asbury,  the  Prophet  of  the  Long 
Road"  (New  York,  1916),  page  158. 


14:  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

his  services;  a  log  cabin,  or  the  barroom  of  a  tavern,  or 
out  under  the  trees — all  were  alike  to  him.  He  preached 
whenever  and  wherever  he  found  any  one  to  listen,  with 
little  regard  to  either  time  or  place.  Moreover,  the  system 
of  lay  or  local  preachers  was  one  which  lent  itself  easily 
to  the  spread  of  Methodism  in  a  new  country.  A  young 
man  who  showed  any  ability  in  public  speaking  was  urged 
by  the  class  leader  and  the  circuit  preacher  to  exercise  his 
gift  on  every  possible  occasion,  and  when  the  presiding 
elder  came  around  to  hold  the  "quarterly  meeting  confer- 
ence" the  young  man  was  recommended  for  an  "exhort- 
er's"  or  "local  preacher's"  license.6  He  did  not  often  trav- 
el a  circuit,  but  he  preached  in  his  own  and  neighboring 
communities,  and  in  many  instances  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  new  classes  in  frontier  settlements  before  the 
regular  circuit  rider  or  presiding  elder  arrived  upon  the 
scene.  Indeed,  the  first  Methodist  classes  organized  west 
of  the  mountains  represented  the  work  of  these  lay  preach- 
ers. They  were  generally  men  of  little  learning,  but  full 
of  earnestness  and  enthusiasm,  and  their  preaching  was 
marvelously  effective. 

The  Methodist  itinerant  also  preached  a  doctrine  which 
made  a  great  appeal  to  the  frontiersman.  He  preached  a 
gospel  of  free  grace,  free  will,  and  individual  responsibil- 
ity. He  brought  home  to  the  pioneers  that  they  were  the 
masters  of  their  own  destiny,  as  opposed  to  the  Presbyte- 
rian and  Baptist  doctrine  of  predestination  and  foreordi- 
nation.  Methodist  theology  thus  fitted  in  exactly  with 
the  new  democracy  rising  in  the  West,  for  both  empha- 
sized actual  equality  among  all  men.  On  one  occasion 
when  Peter  Cartwright  was  attending  a  Conference  in 
Nashville  he  was  chosen  to  preach  a  sermon  in  one  of  the 
local  churches.   While  he  was  preaching  General  Jackson 

6David  Sherman,  "History  of  the  Discipline"  (New  York, 
1890),  pages  202-207,  for  regulations  relative  to  local  preachers. 


The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider. 


15 


came  in,  whereupon  one  of  the  preachers  seated  behind 
him  pulled  Cartwright's  coat  and  whispered,  "General 
Jackson  has  come  in."  Cartwright  states  that  he  felt  a 
wave  of  indignation  sweep  over  him,  then  he  replied  in  an 
audible  voice:  "Who  is  General  Jackson?  If  he  don't 
get  his  soul  converted,  God  will  damn  him  as  quick  as  he 
would  a  Guinea  negro  !"7  This  was  certainly  Jacksonian 
democracy,  and  typifies  the  attitude  of  the  average  Meth- 
odist itinerant  on  the  frontier. 

Included  among  the  immigrants  coming  out  from  Vir- 
ginia, North  Carolina,  and  the  other  seaboard  States  were 
numerous  local  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Church.  No 
sooner  were  they  settled  and  their  log  cabins  built  than 
they  began  to  gather  the  Methodist  families  together  and 
organize  them  into  classes.8  Two  such  local  preachers 
were  Francis  Clark  and  John  Durham,  both  from  Virginia, 
who  settled  in  Mercer  County,  Kentucky,  in  1783.  By  the 
next  year  numbers  of  other  local  preachers  had  come  into 
the  State  and  were  at  work  organizing  Methodist  classes. 

The  General  Minutes  for  1782  record  the  sending  of  a 
regular  circuit  preacher  to  the  Yadkin  country,  and  the 
next  year  both  Yadkin  and  Holston  are  listed  among  the 
circuits,  while  in  1784  the  Bedstone  Circuit,  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  Pennsylvania,  is  added  to  the  number. 
Two  years  later  (1786)  the  Yadkin  Circuit  reported  426 
white  members  and  11  colored,  the  Holston  250  white 
members,  and  the  Redstone  523.9  In  this  same  year  the 
Kentucky  Circuit  appears,  with  James  Haw  as  elder  and 
Benjamin  Ogden  as  circuit  preacher.  Methodist  families 
had  evidently  come  into  Kentucky  in  considerable  num- 
bers, especially  from  Maryland  and  Virginia,  for  at  the 

'"Autobiography  of  Peter  Cartwright,  the  Backwoods  Preach- 
er" (New  York,  1856),  page  192. 

8Albion  H.  Redford,  "History  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky" 
(Nashville,  1868),  Vol.  I.,  page  26. 

9"Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  I.,  page  26. 


16 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  m  the  West. 


end  of  the  first  year  90  members  are  reported  from  this 
new  circuit.10 

As  population  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  along 
the  Ohio  increased,  the  number  of  circuits  and  circuit 
preachers  likewise  grew.  The  year  1786  was  one  of  revival 
in  these  far  western  circuits,  and  among  the  converts  was 
Peter  Massie,  the  first  convert  in  Kentucky  to  become  a 
circuit  rider.  The  Minutes  for  1789  record  the  following 
circuits  for  this  new  country:11  In  Tennessee  were  the 
Holston,  West  New  River,  Greenbrier,  and  Botetourt;  in 
Kentucky  were  Lexington,  Danville,  and  Cumberland; 
while  along  the  Upper  Ohio  were  the  Redstone,  Pittsburgh, 
and  Ohio  Circuits.  The  Yadkin  Circuit  lay  in  Western 
North  Carolina  and  the  Holston  in  Western  Virginia.  In 
1797  the  membership  in  the  Kentucky  circuits  was  1,740 
whites  and  57  colored,  and  in  Tennessee  534  whites  and 
42  colored.12 

With  the  close  of  the  Indian  wars  and  the  signing  of 
the  treaty  of  Greenville  in  1794,  the  southern  half  of  Ohio 
and  a  narrow  strip  in  what  is  now  Southeastern  Indiana 
were  opened  up  to  settlement.  Settlers  from  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  as  well  as  from  the  older  States,  began  to 
move  into  these  new  grants.  Many  of  them  were  members 
of  Methodist  classes  in  the  States  from  which  they  had 
come,  and  so  numerously  did  they  come  into  the  new  coun- 
try that  there  was  an  actual  decrease  of  membership  in 
the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  circuits  from  1797  to  1801. 
Of  these  years  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  writes :  "The 
Indian  war  having  terminated,  the  people  began  to  scatter 
in  every  direction.  New  settlements  were  formed,  Ohio 
and  Indiana  began  to  settle  rapidly;  and  the  societies, 
many  of  them,  were  broken  up,  and  we  had  not  preachers 

10Redford,  "Methodism  in  Kentucky,"  Vol.  I.,  pages  27-32. 
llIbid.,  page  102. 

12"Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  I.,  pa^e  74.  - 


The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider. 


17 


sufficient  to  follow  the  tide  of  emigration  to  their  new 
settlements."13 

The  first  circuit  to  be  formed  in  Ohio  was  organized  in 

1798  by  John  Kobler,  who  had  been  appointed  presiding 
elder  of  the  Kentucky  District.  He  crossed  the  Ohio  and 
preached  in  the  home  of  one  of  these  Kentucky  Methodists 
who  had  migrated  to  the  north  side  of  the  river.  The 
Miami  Circuit,  as  the  new  circuit  was  called,  ran  from  the 
Ohio  up  the  Little  Miami  and  Mad  Rivers  to  where  Day- 
ton now  stands,  thence  down  the  Big  Miami  to  Cincinnati. 
The  second  Ohio  Circuit  was  the  Scioto,  organized  in  1800 
and  included  settlements  on  both  sides  of  that  river.14 
The  first  Governor  of  Ohio,  Edward  Tiffin,  was  a  Method- 
ist local  preacher,  ordained  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1792; 
He  had  come  from  Virginia  to  Chillicothe  in  1796,  and  in 

1799  was  elected  territorial  representative ;  and  when  Ohio 
became  a  State,  in  1803,  he  was  chosen  the  first  Governor. 
His  home  was  always  open  to  Methodist  preaching,  and 
likewise  served  as  the  stopping  place  of  many  a  weary  itin- 
erant.15 

While  the  Methodist  circuit  riders  were  finding  their 
way  into  the  Ohio  Valley  and  founding  circuits  along  the 
banks  of  its  tributaries,  other  preachers,  equally  zealous, 
were  penetrating  into  the  great  Southwest.   Tobias  Gib 

""Autobiography  of  Rev.  William  Burke,"  in  James  B.  Fin 
ley's  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism"  (Cincinnati,  1854),  page 
73.  In  1797  there  were  1,740  white  and  57  colored  members  re- 
ported for  Kentucky,  while  in  1799  the  membership  had  de 
creased  to  1,672  white,  though  there  was  a  gain  of  eight  colored 
members.  The  Tennessee  membership  for  these  years  showed 
little  change,  though  it  was  less  in  1799  than  in  1797  by  nearly 
a  hundred.    ("Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  I.,  pages  74,  86.) 

14 John  M.  Barker,  "History  of  Ohio  Methodism"  (New  York, 
1898),  pages  88,  92.  Also  Redford,  "Methodism  in  Kentucky," 
Vol.  I.,  page  227. 

15A  sketch  of  Governor  Tiffin  may  be  found   in  Finley's 
"Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  pages  260-287. 
2 


18 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


son  was  appointed  Missionary  to  the  Southwest  in  1798. 
Starting  from  the  Cumberland  settlements,  he  traveled 
on  horseback  some  four  or  five  hundred  miles ;  then,  trad- 
ing his  horse  for  a  canoe,  he  paddled  to  all  the  Southwest 
settlements,  preaching  wherever  he  found  hearers,  finally 
making  his  way  back  to  the  Conferences  in  Northern  Ten- 
nessee in  1802.16  This  vast  circuit  received  the  name  of 
Natchez  and  in  1799  reported  60  members. 

The  administration  of  the  Church  in  this  vast  new  ter- 
ritory was  under  the  management  of  Bishop  Francis  As- 
bury and  the  presiding  elders  whom  he  appointed.  Nor 
was  he  an  absentee  supervisor,  directing  the  work  from  a 
comfortable  seat  east  of  the  mountains.  Between  1788 
and  1800  at  least  eighteen  Conferences  were  held  west  of 
the  mountains.17  The  first  of  these  was  in  May,  1788,  at 
a  place  in  East  Tennessee  called  Half-Acres.  Master- 
son's  Station,  in  North-Central  Kentucky,  was  a  favorite 
place  to  hold  Conference  during  these  early  years,  for  here 
the  preachers  met  in  1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1795,  and  1796 ; 
in  1794  a  Conference  met  at  Lewis's  Chapel,  near  Master- 
son's  Station,  while  at  Bethel  Academy,  in  Kentucky, 
Conferences  were  held  in  1797,  1799,  and  1800. 

Bishop  Asbury  was  in  attendance  upon  a  number  of 
these  far  Western  Conferences,  and  as  the  earlier  ones 
were  held  during  the  progress  of  the  Indian  wars,  several 
times  the  bishop  was  escorted  over  the  mountains  by  a 
guard  of  the  Western  preachers  armed  for  the  purpose. 
The  first  Conference  to  be  held  west  of  the  mountains  was 
conducted  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  East  Tennessee,  at  a  place 
called  Half-Acres.18  Asbury  states  in  his  Journal  that  the 
Conference  sat  three  days  and  he  preached  each  day.  The 

10 John  F.  Hurst,  "History  of  Methodism"  (New  York,  1904), 
Vol.  IV.,  pages  572,  573. 

17"Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  I.,  pages  29-89. 

"Francis  Asbury,  "Journal"  (New  York,  1821),  Vol.  II.,  page 

32. 


The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider, 


19 


Bishop  came  into  Tennessee  by  way  of  Virginia,  and  fol- 
lowed the  valley  of  the  Holston  to  the  seat  of  the  Confer- 
ence. He  found  the  people  in  disorder  over  "the  new  and 
old  State."  At  this  time  the  people  of  Eastern  Tennessee 
were  in  rebellion  against  North  Carolina.  North  Carolina 
had  ceded  her  western  lands  to  the  United  States  in  1784, 
but  to  the  manner  of  this  cession  the  Watauga  settle- 
ments objected.  Previous  to  this  North  Carolina  had  neg- 
lected the  western  settlements  within  her  territory,  and 
had  left  them  without  government;  and  now,  when  she 
proceeded  to  cede  them  to  the  United  States,  the  people  of 
the  western  settlements  objected,  and  proceeded  to  organ- 
ize a  State  of  their  own,  calling  it  the  State  of  Franklin. 
On  this  action  by  the  people  of  the  new  settlements,  North 
Carolina  rescinded  her  cession  and  proceeded  to  subdue 
the  rebellious  westerners.  The  State  of  Franklin  ceased 
to  exist  in  February,  1788,  though  conflicts  between  the 
old  and  new  State  parties  continued  until  the  autumn  of 
that  year,  when  Sevier,  the  Governor  of  the  new  State,  was 
arrested  and  imprisoned  on  the  charge  of  treason. 

In  1790  Bishop  Asbury  was  once  more  in  Tennessee, 
having  crossed  over  from  North  Carolina.  He  speaks  in 
his  Journal  of  swimming  the  horses  across  the  Watauga 
and  of  dangers  from  the  Indians.  He  found  the  "poor 
preachers  indifferently  clad,  with  emaciated  bodies."  In 
May  of  this  same  year,  after  returning  to  the  East,  he 
crossed  again  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  accompanied  to 
the  foot  of  the  mountains  by  two  Kentucky  preachers, 
Peter  Massie  and  John  Clark.  Later  their  company  was 
joined  by  eight  others,  and  their  number  finally  reached 
sixteen  men  and  thirteen  guns.  Passing  into  Kentucky, 
they  crossed  the  Kentucky  River,  going  "over  mountains, 
steep  hills,  deep  rivers,  and  muddy  creeks,  and  thick 
growth  of  reeds  for  miles  together."  He  saw  the  graves 
of  the  slain,  twenty-four  in  one  camp.  He  held  conference 
at  Masterson's,  "a  very  comfortable  house  and  kind  peo- 
ple." Here  plans  were  laid  for  the  establishment  of  Bethel 


20 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  tlie  West. 


Academy,  which  was  the  first  Methodist  institution  of 
learning  West  of  the  mountains,  and  $300  was  obtained  in 
subscriptions.  On  his  trip  to  Kentucky  in  1792  the  Bishop 
heard  "so  much  about  Indians,  Convention,  Treat}',  kill- 
ing, and  scalping,"19  that  his  attention  was  drawn  away 
from  the  affairs  of  the  infant  Church  in  the  wilderness ; 
and  after  much  alarm  concerning  depredations  committed 
by  the  Indians,  he  finally  returned  to  Virginia  with  a  com- 
pany of  "thirty-six  good  travelers,  and  a  few  warriors." 
Eighteen  such  trips  over  the  mountains  were  made  by 
Bishop  Asbury  between  1788  and  the  time  of  his  death, 
1816. 

In  1792  the  first  serious  schism  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  took  place,  headed  by  James  CFKelly,  a 
prominent  preacher  East  of  the  mountains,  who  objected 
to  Asbury\s  supreme  appointing  power.20  Those  who  with- 
drew with  O'Kelly  called  themselves  Republican  Method- 
ists, and  a  number  of  adherents  were  won  in  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee.  Most  of  them,  however,  finally  united  with  the 
sect  known  as  the  New  Lights ;  and  the  Republican  Meth- 
odists, as  a  separate  organization,  went  out  of  existence, 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  name  Republican  was  popular 
in  the  West.  Most  of  the  Methodists  in  the  Western  coun- 
try were  Jeffersonian  Democrats  in  their  politics,  as  were 
also  many  of  the  Methodists  in  other  States.21 

Beginning  in  1797,  a  great  revival  swept  over  the  West- 
ern country,  which  profoundly  stirred  whole  communities 
and  affected  every  Protestant  sect.  It  began  in  Kentucky, 
on  the  Cumberland,  under  the  influence  of  a  Presbyterian 

™lMd.,  Vol.  II.,  pages  74,  126,  137. 

-°Lee,  "History  of  the  Methodists,"  pages  178-180;  Nathan 
Bangs,  "History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church"  (New  York, 
1839),  Vol.  I.,  pages  351-356;  Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages 
32,  33. 

21Alfred  Brunson,  "Western  Pioneer"  (Cincinnati,  1872),  Vol. 
I.,  pages  38-43.  This  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  relation 
of  the  Methodists  and  Jeffersonian  Democrats  in  Connecticut. 


The  Coming  of  the  Circuit  Rider. 


21 


minister,  James  McGready.  It  was  under  the  influence  of 
these  meetings  that  the  camp  meeting  originated,  which 
became  thereafter  a  Methodist  institution  that  was  em- 
ployed with  great  effectiveness  on  the  frontier,  though  the 
Methodists  did  not  themselves  originate  it.  The  revival 
continued  for  eight  years,  and  through  its  influence  the 
membership  in  the  Western  circuits  was  more  than  dou- 
bled and  the  number  of  local  and  traveling  preachers  was 
greatly  increased.22  Indeed,  it  was  largely  through  the 
influence  of  this  revival  that  preaching  was  begun  north 
of  the  Ohio  in  what  is  now  Ohio  and  Indiana. 

During  these  early  years  the  Western  circuits  and  dis- 
tricts were  more  or  less  indefinite  in  their  boundaries  and 
their  organization  loose.  From  year  to  year  they  under- 
went considerable  change,  both  as  to  boundaries  and 
names,  and  the  Conferences  were  irregularly  held.  The 
Conference  held  in  the  West  in  1788  was  called  the  Hol- 
ston,  while  the  two  Conferences  held  in  1790  were  known 
as  the  Holston  and  the  Kentucky.  In  1791,  besides  the 
two  Conferences  already  noted,  a  third,  called  the  Green- 
brier, was  held.  The  Western  Conferences  of  1793  are  the 
Nashville,  Kentucky,  Greenbrier,  and  New  Territory; 
while  in  1794,  besides  the  New  Territory  and  Kentucky 
Conferences,  one  is  held  at  Mitchell's.  After  1795  the 
Western  Conference  is  generally  called  either  the  Holston 
or  the  Kentucky  Conference.23 

By  1800,  the  year  of  the  organization  of  the  Western 
Conference,  there  were  2,307  white  members  in  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  and  177  colored.  Of  this  number,  1,626 
white  members  were  in  Kentucky  and  681  were  in  Ten- 
nessee, while  of  the  colored  members  115  were  in  Ken- 
tucky and  62  in  Tennessee.  In  the  Northwest  Territory 
there  were  three  circuits,  the  Miami,  the  Scioto,  and  the 

"Catherine  C.  Cleveland,  "Great  Revival  in  the  West,"  1797- 
1805"  (Chicago,  1916),  Chapters  2,  3.  Also  Redford,  "Methodism 
in  Kentucky." 

""Minutes  of  Conferences,"  Vol.  J. 


22 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Muskinjguni  and  Hockhocking,  with  a  white  membership  of 
364  and  2  colored ;  while  along  the  Mississippi  to  the  south 
of  Tennessee  was  the  Xatchez  Circuit,  which  reported  in 
that  year  81  white  members. 

In  the  years  following  the  Revolutionary  War,  1783  to 
1800,  the  Methodist  Church  had  successfully  followed  the 
immigrants  across  the  mountains  to  their  new  homes  in 
the  West.  Indeed,  no  other  Church  was  so  well  suited  to 
minister  to.  the  wants  of  these  immigrants.  "It  alone  was 
so  organized  as  to  be  able  to  follow  step  by  step  this  mov- 
able population,  and  to  carry  the  gospel  even  to  the  most 
distant  cabin.  It  alone  could  be  present  whenever  a  grave 
was  opened,  or  an  infant  was  found  in  its  cradle."24  The 
other  sects  moved  westward  toward  the  Mississippi  as 
fast  as  any  number  of  their  adherents  formed  part  of  the 
emigration  thither,  but  Methodism  alone  exercised  a 
weighty  influence  upon  the  mixed  crowd.  And  it  is  from 
this  class,  the  great  unchurched  crowd,  that  the  Methodist 
Church  in  the  West  was  to  draw  the  largest  proportion  of 
its  membership. 

"From  an  article  first  printed  in  the  Revue  des  deux  mondes, 
by  M.  Cucheval-Clavigny;  translated  and  reprinted  under  the 
title,  "Peter  Cartwright  and  Preaching  in  the  West,"  Methodist 
Rcvieic,  Vol.  LIV.,  pages  556,  577,  Vol.  LV.,  pages  69-88. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE. 

1800-1811. 

This  chapter  is  to  deal  with  the  progress  of  the  Method- 
ist Church  in  the  West  during  the  first  twelve  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  which  is  the  period  covered  by  the  life 
of  the  Western  Conference.  The  name  "Western  Confer- 
ence" did  not  come  into  use  until  toward  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  the  General  Minutes  continue  to 
designate  the  Western  circuits  as  the  Kentucky  District 
as  late  as  1800.  By  the  beginning  of  the  new  century 
Methodist  circuits  had  been  established  in  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Ohio,  and  along  the  Mississippi  in  what  is  now  the 
State  of  Mississippi.  These  circuits  were  included  in  one 
district,  presided  over  by  William  McKendree.  McKen- 
dree  was  a  Virginian  and  had  begun  to  preach  in  his  na- 
tive State  in  1788.  For  twelve  years  he  traveled  circuits 
east  of  the  mountains;  but  in  1800  Bishops  Asbury  and 
Whatcoat,  passing  through  Virginia  on  their  way  to  the 
West,  took  McKendree  along  with  them,  and  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1800  he  was  made  presiding  elder  of  all  the 
Western  circuits.1  No  better  choice  could  have  been  made 
for  a  frontier  presiding  elder,  and  for  eight  successive 
years  he  is  the  major  general  of  the  frontier  Church. 

By  the  next  year,  1801,  the  number  of  Western  circuits 
had  increased  from  9  to  13  and  a  new  district,  the  Holston, 
was  formed,  with  John  Watson  as  presiding  elder.  In 
1802  there  are  seventeen  circuits  and  three  districts,  the 
third  district  being  the  Cumberland.  In  1804  a  fourth 
district  was  added,  which  was  formed  of  the  Ohio  circuits, 

XW.  C.  Larrabee,  "Asbury  and  His  Colaborers,"  Vol.  II.,  pages 
214-217. 


24  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

now  grown  to  five.2  It  was  in  this  year  also  that  Benja- 
min Young  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  Illinois.  It  may 
have  been  that  Benjamin  Young  was  sent  upon  this  mis- 
sion as  a  matter  of  discipline,  for  he  is  charged  in  the 
Conference  of  that  year,  "of  having  said  that  he  composed 
a  certain  song,  when  in  truth  he  did  not ;  that  he  had  the 
misfortain  to  fet  his  horse's  thye  broke,  when  it  was  not 
so ;  and  that  he  baptized  contrary  to  the  order  of  the  M.  E. 
Church."  He  was  admitted  into  the  Conference  and  or- 
dained elder  only  "after  a  plain  talke,  and  hopeful  prom- 
ises."3 Whatever  may  have  been  the  reason  for  sending 
Benjamin  Young  as  a  missionary  to  Illinois,  the  fact  re- 
mains that,  in  spite  of  many  difficulties,  he  succeeded  in 
forming  five  classes  among  the  Illinois  settlements  and  at 
the  end  of  the  year  reported  sixty-seven  members.  He  was 
received  very  coldly,  however,  among  the  Kaskaskia  settle- 
ments, and  at  Kaskaskia  was  compelled  to  pay  high  rent 
for  the  hall  in  which  he  preached;  and  to  increase  his 
difficulties,  the  Kickapoo  Indians  made  away  with  his 
horse.4 

Previous,  however,  to  the  coming  of  Benjamin  Young 
to  Illinois,  Methodism  had  been  introduced  into  the  coun- 
try by  Methodist  laymen.  Capt.  Joseph  Ogle  seems  to 
have  been  the  first  Methodist  in  the  State,  having  come 
to  the  Illinois  country  in  1785.  In  1793  Joseph  Lillard, 
a  local  preacher,  visited  Illinois  and  gathered  a  few  scat- 
tered Methodists  into  a  class  and  appointed  Ogle  class 

^General  Minutes,  Vol.  I. 

aMS.  Journal  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference,  1803.  At  the 
Conference  of  1804  Benjamin  Young  was  expelled  from  the 
Church.  William  McKendree,  who  presided  at  that  Conference 
in  the  absence  of  Bishop  Asbury,  was  responsible  for  the  ex- 
pulsion. It  is  probable  that  Young's  misconduct  was  more  in 
the  nature  of  imprudences  rather  than  immoral  conduct.  (Lea- 
ton,  "Methodism  in  Illinois,"  page  35.) 

4James  Leaton,  "History  of  Methodism  in  Illinois  from  1793- 
1832"  (Cincinnati,  1883),  pages  34-37. 


The  Western  Conference. 


25 


leader.  Five  years  later  John  Clarke,  who  had  been  a 
traveling  preacher  in  South  Carolina,  visited  Illinois  and 
crossed  over  into  Missouri  and  was  very  probably  the  first 
Protestant  minister  to  preach  West  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  same  year  that  Clarke  visited  Illinois,  a  local  preach- 
er, named  Hosea  Rigg,  from  Western  Pennsylvania,  set- 
tled in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  reorganized  the  class 
formerly  led  by  Ogle,  and  also  established  a  second  class 
in  what  is  now  Madison  County.5 

While  Benjamin  Young  was  at  work  in  the  Illinois 
country  among  the  scattered  settlements  along  the  Mis- 
sissippi, circuit  riders  from  Kentucky  and  Ohio  were  find- 
ing their  way  into  Indiana.  By  the  year  1800  the  white 
population  in  what  is  now  Indiana  was  nearly  3,000.  Vin- 
cennes,  the  old  French  settlement,  and  vicinity  had  1,538, 
while  Clark's  Grant,  a  tract  of  land  granted  to  George 
Rogers  Clark  by  Congress,  and  situated  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Ohio,  contained  919.6  Most  of  the  English  settlers 
had  come  from  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Virginia,  and  North 
Carolina.  Some  of  them  had  been  Methodists  in  the  older 
States,  though  there  were  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  and 
Quakers  among  them.7  The  first  reliable  record  of  Meth- 
odist preaching  in  Indiana  was  in  1801,  at  a  settlement 
located  in  Clark's  Grant.  Two  local  preachers,  Samuel 
Parker  and  Edward  Talbott,  crossed  the  Ohio  and  con- 
ducted a  two  days'  meeting  in  the  new  territory.8  It  was 
William  McKendree,  the  presiding  elder,  however,  who 
established  the  first  official  Methodist  class  in  Indiana.  In 
the  summer  of  1802  he  was  taken  across  the  Ohio  in  a 
canoe  and  two  classes  were  formed,  one  at  Charlestown, 

BIbid.,  pages  27-33. 

6Logan  Esarey,  "History  of  Indiana,"  Vol.  I.,  pages  123,  124, 
127. 

7W.  C.  Smith,  "Indiana  Miscellany,"  page  43. 
8F.  C.  Holliday,  "Indiana  Methodism,"  page  37. 


26 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


the  present  county  seat  of  Clark  County,  and  the  other 
near  by  at  a  place  then  called  New  Chappie.9 

Following  these  earliest  classes  came  Benjamin  Lakin 
in  1803,  then  traveling  the  Salt  River  Circuit  in  Kentucky, 
and  he  added  the  two  new  Indiana  classes  to  his  Kentucky 
circuit.  At  the  session  of  the  Western  Conference  in  1805 
Peter  Cartwright,  who  had  been  admitted  into  the  Confer- 
ence in  1804,  was  appointed  junior  preacher  on  the  Salt 
River  and  Shelby  Circuit.  In  his  autobiography  he  states : 
"Brother  Benjamin  Lakin  and  myself  crossed  the  Ohio 
River  and  preached  at  Brother  Robertson's  and  Prather's. 
In  this  grant  we  had  two  classes  and  splendid  revivals  of 
religion."10 

Into  the  narrow  strip  of  territory,  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  present  State  of  Indiana,  which  had  been  opened 
up  to  settlement  by  the  treaty  of  Greenville  (1794)  fol- 
lowing General  Wayne's  campaign  against  the  Indians, 
had  come  by  1805  a  considerable  population.  The  valley 
of  the  Whitewater  River  was  particularly  well  settled. 
Here  in  1805  were  two  settlements,  one  a  little  south  of 
the  present  city  of  Richmond,  called  the  Kentucky  settle- 
ment, because  most  of  the  families  had  come  from  Ken- 
tucky; the  other,  above  the  present  town  of  Brookville, 
was  called  the  Carolina  settlement,  because  most  of  the 
families  had  come  from  South  Carolina.  In  the  latter 
settlement  were  several  Methodist  families,  and  these 
drew  up  a  petition  to  John  Sale,  then  the  presiding  elder 
of  the  Ohio  District,  asking  that  a  regular  traveling 
preacher  be  sent  them.  In  response  to  this  petition,  in 
March,  1806,  John  Sale  sent  Joseph  Oglesby  to  form  a  new 
circuit  west  of  the  Great  Miami. 

Fortunately  we  have  from  Oglesby  himself  a  description 


°W.  W.  Sweet,  "Circuit  Rider  Days  in  Indiana"  (Indianapolis, 
1916),  page  4. 

10Peter  Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  page  167. 


The  Western  Conference. 


27 


of  the  formation  of  this  new  circuit,11  which  became  known 
as  the  Whitewater.  The  circuit  began  at  the  present  town 
of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  at  the  cabin  of  Moses  Crume  the 
first  sermon  was  preached.  The  next  stop  was  the  cabin 
of  a  family  by  the  name  of  Gray.  After  opening  several 
preaching  places  in  Western  Ohio,  the  young  circuit  rider 
struck  General  Wayne's  old  road  from  Hamilton  to  Fort 
Wayne,  which,  he  says,  "seemed  still  fresh  and  plain." 
From  this  road  he  came  upon  an  Indian  trail  which  led 
him  into  Indiana,  and  finally  to  the  Kentucky  settlement 
on  the  Whitewater.  Here  he  preached  at  the  cabin  of  a 
Mr.  Cox  and  formed  a  class.  The  society  was  small,  be- 
cause most  of  the  people  of  this  settlement  were  Baptists. 
Turning  southward  and  following  the  Whitewater,  he  es- 
tablished other  preaching  places  along  that  stream,  finally 
arriving  at  Lawrenceburg,  the  county  town  of  Dearborn 
County,  which  had  been  founded  in  1802.  From  Lawrence- 
burg he  started  up  the  Miami,  preaching  at  cabins  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  until  he  arrived  at  the  place  of  beginning. 
This  route  was  traveled  by  Oglesby  every  four  weeks  until 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Western  Conference,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1806. 

Following  Oglesby  on  the  Whitewater  Circuit  came 
Thomas  Heliums  and  Sela  Paine  as  circuit  preachers. 
Heliums  has  been  described  as  "a  grave,  zealous,  affection- 
ate, and  weeping  preacher,"  his  countenance  always  most 
solemn  and  his  subjects  of  discourse  usually  of  a  grave  and 
pathetic  cast,  while  the  intonations  of  his  voice  were  as 
solemn  as  death,  and  usually  large  tears  dropped  from  his 
face  most  of  the  time  while  he  was  preaching.12  By  the 
close  of  the  year  1808  the  number  of  preaching  places  on 

"Allen  Wiley,  "Introduction  and  Progress  of  Methodism  in 
Southeast  Indiana"  (a  series  of  thirty-seven  articles  in  the  West- 
ern Christian  Advocate,  1845-46),  August  15,  1845. 

12Allen  Wiley,  article  in  the  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Oc- 
tober 17,  1845. 


28 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


the  new  circuit  had  grown  to  twenty  and  the  membership 
had  reached  166. 

In  1808  a  second  Indiana  circuit,  the  Silver  Creek,  was 
organized,  which  included  the  territory  of  Clark's  Grant, 
formerly  in  the  Salt  River  Circuit,  of  the  Kentucky  Dis- 
trict. The  circuit  preacher  was  Moses  Ashworth,  a  young 
man  of  twenty-four.  This  was  the  first  complete  circuit 
in  Indiana.  The  next  year  a  new  district  was  formed 
which  included  the  two  Indiana  circuits,  the  Illinois 
and  Missouri  circuits,  besides  two  Kentucky  circuits, 
and  received  the  name  Indiana  District.  By  the  next 
year  the  Indiana  circuits  had  grown  to  three,  with  the 
addition  of  the  Yincennes  Circuit.13  One  of  the  first 
services  conducted  by  the  circuit  preacher,  William  Win- 
ans,  in  the  old  French  town  was  held  in  the  fort,  on  the 
Wabash.  The  congregation  was  made  up  of  a  few  govern- 
ment officials,  a  few  English-speaking  settlers,  two  or 
three  Indians,  and  the  Governor  of  the  Territory,  William 
Henry  Harrison.  There  were  only  a  few  tallow  candles  to 
furnish  light  for  the  service,  and  one  of  these  was  held  by 
the  Governor  to  enable  the  young  preacher  to  read  his 
text  and  line  out  the  hymn.14  General  Harrison  was  al- 
ways a  firm  friend  of  the  Methodist  circuit  rider,  although 
he  was  a  communicant  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  By 
1811  there  were  five  circuits  in  Indiana,  a  fourth  having 
been  added  in  1810,  made  up  of  the  southern  half  of  the 
Whitewater  Circuit.  At  first  this  circuit  was  known  as 
the  Enon,  a  scriptural  name  meaning  abundance  of  wa- 
ters, for  the  circuit  preacher  in  making  the  rounds  of  the 
circuit  was  compelled  to  cross  many  creeks.15  Later  the 
circuit  became  the  Lawrenceburg.    In  1811  the  fifth  In- 


l*IWd.,  November  28,  1845. 

14Holliday,  "Indiana  Methodism,"  pages  28,  29. 
lzWestern  Christian  Advocate,  December  19,  1845. 


The  Western  Cwtferenee. 


20 


diana  circuit  appeared,  called  the  Patoka,  which  included 
the  settlements  along  the  Patoka  River.16 

The  year  1811  was  an  important  date  in  the  history  of 
early  Indiana.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  this  year  that  General 
Harrison  won  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  which  opened  up 
much  new  territory  to  settlement,  and  it  was  also  the  year 
of  the  great  earthquake.  Quakes  of  the  most  alarming 
character  continued  through  the  winter  of  1811  and  1812. 
The  effects  of  these  shocks  upon  Indiana  Methodism  and 
religion  in  general  is  thus  described  by  an  eyewitness  :17 

As  a  result  of  the  continued  quakes  the  whole  country  became 
alarmed  and  the  most  vile  and  hardened  sinners  began  to  tremble 
and  quake,  and  to  go  to  meeting,  and  weep  and  pray.  Now  every 
preacher,  traveling  and  local,  with  the  exhorters,  began  to  hold 
meetings  with  more  earnestness  than  ever  in  almost  all  directions, 
and  Baptist  ministers  did  the  same,  and  it  seemed  as  if  almost 
everybody  would  become  religious  that  winter  and  spring. 

The  result  of  the  earthquake  is  clearly  indicated  by  the 
minutes.  The  Whitewater  Circuit  increased  from  567  to 
843 ;  the  Lawrenceburg  from  306  to  480 ;  the  Silver  Creek 
from  375  to  555 ;  while  the  Vincennes  Circuit  was  divided, 
probably  as  a  result  of  the  great  ingathering.  This  large 
growth,  however,  was  not  lasting,  and  the  next  year  there 
was  a  reaction,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  zeal  and  members. 

We  have  already  noted  in  the  previous  chapter  the  or- 
ganization of  the  first  Ohio  circuit,  along  the  banks  of  the 
Miami  and  the  Scioto.  So  rapidly  did  population  increase 
in  the  new  territory  in  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth 
century  that  by  1803  Ohio  was  admitted  as  a  State  into 
the  American  union,  and  the  same  year  the  Ohio  District 
was  organized,  made  up  of  five  circuits,  two  of  which  were 
in  Western  Virginia.  The  presiding  elder  of  the  new 
district  was  the  Secretary  of  the  Western  Conference, 
William  Burke.   It  took  the  presiding  elder  about  eleven 

10General  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  page  211. 
^Western  Christian  Advocate,  January  9,  1846. 


30  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


weeks  of  travel  to  make  the  rounds  of  his  vast  district; 
and  because  the  population  was  so  scattered  he  was  often 
compelled  to  stay  at  the  rude  frontier  taverns,  which  he 
describes  as  filled  with  "the  disorder  and  abuse  of  the 
unprincipled  and  half-civilized  inmates."  Often  he  slept 
on  the  floor  of  open  cabins,  sometimes  without  bed  or  cov- 
ering.18 

It  was  in  1804  that  Methodist  preaching  was  introduced 
into  Cincinnati,  then  a  thriving  town  of  some  fifteen  hun- 
dred houses.  John  Collins,19  a  local  preacher  from  New 
York  State,  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Little  Miami  in 
1803.  During  the  year  1804  he  went  to  Cincinnati  to  pur- 
chase salt,  and  while  making  his  purchase  he  asked  the 
storekeeper  if  there  were  any  Methodists  in  the  town.  To 
this  question  the  storekeeper  replied  that  he  himself  was 
a  Methodist,  whereupon  Collins  threw  his  arms  about  him 
and  wept  for  joy.  On  further  inquiry  Collins  learned  that 
there  were  several  other  Methodist  families  in  the  jjlace 
and  arrangements  were  soon  made  for  preaching  at  the 
house  of  the  storekeeper.  Here  a  class  was  organized, 
which  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Cincinnati  Church.  In 
1807  Collins  became  a  traveling  preacher  in  the  Western 
Conference,  and  was  instrumental  in  forming  the  first  so- 
cieties in  Dayton,  Hillsboro,  and  other  places.20 

In  1805-06  Peter  Cartwright  was  the  preacher  on  the 
Scioto  and  Hocking  Circuits,  being  moved  from  the  for- 
mer to  the  latter  circuit  in  the  middle  of  the  year.  The 
last  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  year  was  a  camp  meeting 
conducted  near  the  town  of  Marietta.  To  this  meeting 
came  a  great  crowd  of  "rabble  and  rowdies"  on  Sunday 
morning,  "armed  with  dirks,  clubs,  knives,  and  horse- 

18Finley,  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  pages  85-87. 
10See  the  Methodist  Review  for  1850,  pages  324-328,  for  the 
"Life  of  John  Collins." 

20Barker,  "Methodism  in  Ohio,"  page  138. 


The  Western  Conference. 


3L 


whips,  and  swore  they  would  break  up  the  meeting." 
While  Cartwright  was  preaching  one  of  the  rowdies  stood 
up  on  one  of  the  seats  on  the  women's  side  of  the  camp 
and  began  to  talk  and  laugh.  The  preacher  ordered  him 
down,  but  with  oaths  he  refused.  The  magistrates  present 
were  afraid  to  arrest  the  young  rowdy,  so  Cartwright  took 
a  hand  in  the  matter.  After  a  general  scuffle,  in  which  the 
friends  of  law  and  order  took  the  side  of  the  preachers, 
order  was  finally  restored,  but  only  after  thirty  of  the 
ruffians  had  been  captured,  and  on  Monday  nearly  three 
hundred  dollars  was  collected  in  fines  and  costs.21 

On  one  occasion  during  this  year  Cartwright  and  his 
friend  Axley,  a  preacher  on  the  Hockhocking  Circuit,  were 
invited  to  dine  at  the  house  of  the  Governor,  Edward  Tif- 
fin.22 Axley  was  very  crude  and  knew  little  of  polite  so- 
ciety. At  the  table,  when  he  had  finished  eating  the  meat 
from  the  unjointed  leg  of  a  chicken,  he  whistled  to  the 
family  dog  and  threw  the  bone  on  the  floor.  This  caused 
the  Governor  no  little  merriment,  and  it  was  only  with 
difficulty  that  he  controlled  his  laughter.  All  the  preach- 
ers, however,  were  not  so  crude  as  Axley,  and  he  had  many 
sterling  qualities  which  made  him  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  effective  of  the  frontier  preachers. 

By  1808  the  increase  of  members  and  circuits  in  Ohio 
made  necessary  the  formation  of  two  districts  in  the  State, 
the  Miami  and  the  Muskingum.  The  Miami  contained  the 
circuits  in  Southwest  Ohio,  while  the  Muskingum  included 
the  territory  in  Southeastern  Ohio  as  well  as  several  cir- 
cuits in  Western  Virginia. 

We  have  already  noted  the  sending  of  Tobias  Gibson,  in 
1798,  into  the  Southwest.  He  rode  through  all  the  settle- 
ments to  the  Florida  line  and  was  the  father  of  Meth- 
odism in  all  that  vast  territory.    In  1802  he  returned  to 

"Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages  90-92. 
*2IMd.,  pages  93,  94. 


32 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


the  session  of  the  Western  Conference,  in  Northern  Ten- 
nessee, to  plead  for  helpers ;  and  even  though  deadly  con- 
sumption had  fastened  itself  upon  him,  he  returned  to  the 
Southwest,  where  he  gave  nearly  two  more  years  to  his 
vast  circuit,  its  farthest  limits  being  1,500  miles  from  his 
home.23  He  preached  his  last  sermon  on  New  Year's  day, 
1804,  and  died  at  Natchez  in  April.24  In  1802  Moses 
Floyd  was  appointed  with  Tobias  Gibson  to  the  Natchez 
Circuit,  while  the  next  year  two  other  helpers  came  to  the 
Southwest.  In  1805  the  Mississippi  District  was  formed, 
with  four  circuits,  and  Learner  Blackman  was  appointed 
as  presiding  elder. 

To  the  Appalousas  Circuit — one  of  the  circuits  belong- 
ing to  the  new  Mississippi  District — Elisha  W.  Bowman 
was  appointed  in  1805.  Soon  after  the  purchase  of  Loui- 
siana, in  1803,  Bishop  Asbury  called  for  volunteers  to 
carry  the  gospel  into  the  new  territory.  Elisha  W.  Bow- 
man offered  to  go.  His  trip  to  his  new  circuit  was  long 
and  arduous.  He  rode  on  horseback  to  New  Orleans, 
which,  he  states,  he  found  as  dirty  as  a  pigsty  and  in  al- 
most as  bad  condition  morally.  He  went  to  the  Governor, 
who  promised  him  the  city  hall  as  a  preaching  place;  but 
when  Sunday  came  the  hall  was  locked  against  him. 
There  were  few  Americans  in  the  city  and  most  of  them 
represented  the  dregs  of  society.  He  learned,  however,  of 
an  American  settlement  some  two  hundred  miles  west  and 
northwest,  which  he  reached  traveling  mostly  by  boat, 
taking  his  horse  on  a  platform  supported  by  two  canoes. 
This  was  in  the  Appalousas  country,  where  he  found  set- 
tlements of  Americans  who  knew  "very  little  more  about 
the  nature  of  salvation  than  the  untaught  Indians,"  and 
he  states  "that  some  of  them,  after  I  had  preached,  asked 


23Hurst,  "History  of  Methodism,"  Vol.  V.,  pages  572,  573. 
L'4See  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  1805,  pages  125,  126,  for  short  biography 
of  Tobias  Gibson. 


The  Western  Conference. 


33 


me  what  I  meant  by  the  fall  of  man,  and  when  it  was  that 
he  fell."25 

By  1811  the  Mississippi  District  included  nine  circuits. 
In  the  early  years  of  the  work  in  the  Southwest  the 
preachers  often  were  so  far  away  that  they  were  unable  to 
attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Western  Conference, 
which  held  its  sessions  either  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  or 
Ohio.  In  the  Conference  of  1807  Bishop  Asbury  had  sev- 
eral letters  read  to  the  Conference  which  had  been  received 
from  the  preachers  on  the  Mississippi  District  who  were 
unable  to  attend,  and  the  same  year  Caleb  W.  Cloud  and 
Thomas  Lasley,  who  had  been  elected  and  ordained  to  the 
office  of  deacon  the  previous  year,  were  admitted  into  full 
connection  without  being  present,  "in  consequence  of  their 
mission  to  Natchez."26 

Meanwhile  the  work  in  Illinois,  begun  in  1803,  had  been 
continued  with  moderate  success.  The  Illinois  Circuit  in 
1806  reported  110  members;  in  1807  there  were  218  white 
and  2  colored.  In  the  fall  of  1806  a  missionary  was  sent 
to  Missouri.  This  task  was  placed  upon  the  shoulders  of 
a  young  preacher,  John  Travis,  who  had  just  been  admit- 
ted on  trial  into  the  Conference,  having  come  recommend- 
ed from  the  "Ellenoies"  Quarterly  Conference.  His  suc- 
cess may  be  seen  from  the  109  members  which  he  reported 
for  the  circuit  at  the  end  of  the  first  Conference  year.  In 
1808  the  new  Indiana  District  included  both  the  Illinois 
and  the  Missouri  Circuits,  but  in  1811  an  Illinois  District 
was  formed,  with  five  circuits,  all  of  which,  however,  were 
not  in  Illinois.  The  Illinois  and  Missouri  Circuits  in  1811 
had  near  700  members.  At  this  time  the  Missouri  terri- 
tory contained  not  less  than  16,000  inhabitants,  about 
one-fifth  of  whom  were  slaves. 

25William  H.  Milburn,  "Lance,  Cross,  and  Canoe;  Flatboat, 
Rifle,  and  Plow  In  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi"  (New  York, 
1892),  pages  357-360. 

28MS.  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference,  1807. 
3 


The  Western  Conference. 


35 


As  settlers  moved  in  increasing  numbers  into  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  the  number  of  circuits  and  districts  in 
these  older  States  had  also  materially  increased.  In  1804 
there  were  three  districts  and  nineteen  circuits  in  these 
two  States ;  by  1811  there  were  four  districts  and  thirty- 
four  circuits.  The  membership  had  increased  accordingly. 
The  Holston  District  in  1804  reported  3,122  white  mem- 
bers and  182  colored ;  the  Cumberland  had  2,597  white  and 
296  colored ;  while  the  Kentucky  gave  the  largest  returns, 
3,718  white  and  243  colored.  The  total  membership  in 
these  three  districts,  which  included  the  circuits  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  was  9,437  whites  and  721  colored. 
The  membership  in  1811  by  districts  was  as  follows :  Hol- 
ston, 4,068  white,  291  colored;  Cumberland,  6,033  white, 
562  colored;  Kentucky,  3,335  white,  283  colored;  Green 
River,  4,075  white  and  279  colored — a  total  membership 
for  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  of  17,511  white 
and  1,415  colored. 

In  the  twelve  years  of  the  life  of  the  Western  Confer- 
ence, from  1800  to  1811,  Methodism  had  made  a  remark- 
able growth  on  the  frontier.  At  the  beginning  of  the  new 
century  there  were  not  more  than  2,622  white  members 
and  179  colored  in  the  whole  Western  country;  twelve 
years  later  the  membership  had  increased  to  29,093  whites 
and  1,648  colored.  The  number  of  circuits  had  grown 
from  9  to  69,  with  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  number 
of  traveling  preachers.  At  the  session  of  the  Western  Con- 
ference in  1800  Bishop  Asbury  had  sent  out  fourteen 
preachers  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  cabins  of  the  fron- 
tiersmen; in  1811  Bishop  McKendree  stationed  one  hun- 
dred preachers  within  the  bounds  of  the  Western  Confer- 
ence. 

To  the  first  delegated  General  Conference,  which  con- 
vened in  Baltimore  in  May,  1808,  the  Western  Conference 
elected  the  following  men  to  represent  them:  William 


36 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


McKendree,  William  Burke,  James  Ward,  Benjamin 
Lakin,  Learner  Blackman,  Thomas  Milligan,  and  John 
Sale.27  McKendree  had  now  spent  eight  years  in  the 
West,  and  was  very  probably  little  known  among  the 
Eastern  brethren.  There  were  few  newspapers,  and  no 
religious  paper  in  any  denomination  in  the  country,  so 
there  was  little  chance  of  a  man  in  one  section  of  the 
denomination  becoming  known  to  another.  On  the  first 
Sunday  of  the  General  Conference  McKendree  was  as- 
signed to  preach  at  the  Light  Street  Church.  There  were 
present  that  morning  a  large  congregation,  made  up  of 
General  Conference  delegates  as  well  as  members  of  the 
Church.  McKendree's  appearance  was  not  prepossessing. 
He  was  tall  and  of  commanding  appearance,  but  his 
clothes  were  coarse  and  homely  and  his  movements  were 
awkward  and  his  manners  rustic.  ~Sor  did  the  first  part 
of  his  sermon  strike  fire.  A  change  came  when  the  sermon 
was  half  finished.  The  lion  of  the  West  made  the  walls 
of  Light  Street  Church,  as  he  had  often  made  the  forests 
of  Kentucky,  ring  with  his  powerful  voice,  and  the  congre- 
gation seemed  overwhelmed.  "Multitudes  fell  helpless 
from  their  seats  as  if  shot  with  a  rifle."28  Then  the  tone 
of  the  preacher  changed  again  and  soon  shouts  of  triumph 
were  heard  among  the  congregation.  When  he  came  down 
from  the  pulpit,  the  people  gazed  at  him  "as  they  might 
at  some  messenger  from  another  world,"  while  the  preach- 
ers with  one  accord  said,  "That  is  the  man  for  a  bishop." 
Accordingly  the  same  week  he  was  elected.  And  the 
choice  was  a  most  fortunate  one,  for  there  was  not  another 
man  in  the  Church  better  fitted  to  carry  on  the  work  of 
Asbury  than  this  rugged  pioneer  who  had  learned  the 
ways  of  the  wilderness  on  the  frontier. 

Beginning  with  the  year  1800,  the  Western  Conference 

27MS.  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference,  1807. 
28Larrabee,  "Asbury  and  His  Colaborers,"  Vol.  II.,  pages  207- 
232. 


The  Western  Conference. 


37 


generally  held  its  annual  sessions  either  during  the  last 
of  September  or  the  early  part  of  October.  Bishop  Asbury 
attended  eleven  of  the  twelve  sessions,  though  MeKendree 
presided  at  the  last  four  sessions.  At  the  session  of  1804 
Asbury  was  sick  and  unable  to  attend,  and  MeKendree 
presided,  though  at  that  time  he  was  only  a  presiding 
elder.  At  the  session  of  1805  both  Bishops  Asbury  and 
Whatcoat  were  present.  Five  of  the  twelve  sessions  of  the 
Western  Conference  were  held  in  Kentucky,  four  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  three  in  Ohio.  The  first  session  in  Ohio  was 
held  at  Chillicothe,  the  first  State  capital,  in  1807,  while 
the  sessions  of  1809  and  1811  met  at  Cincinnati,  then 
grown  to  be  the  metropolis  of  the  State. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Western  Conference  for  all  its 
sessions  except  the  last  was  William  Burke.29  Burke  was 
one  of  the  sturdy  characters  of  the  Conference,  and, 
though  not  an  educated  man,  was  evidently  clear-headed 
and  a  capable  officer.  His  penmanship  is  excellent,  and  to 
this  day  the  Journal  of  the  Conference  is  easily  read.  His 
spelling  followed  no  rule,  sometimes  the  same  word  being 
spelled  different  ways  on  the  same  page.  Nor  did  he  fol- 
low any  rule  for  capitalization  or  punctuation.  Some 
years  he  is  lavish  with  his  commas  and  semicolons,  while 
other  years  the  minutes  lack  punctuation  almost  entirely. 
In  the  early  years  he  speaks  of  the  "Mitionaries,"  and  it  is 
"destrict"  to  the  last.  Learner  Blackman  he  invariably 
spells  "Lawner,"  and  there  are  many  other  peculiarities 
which  can  only  be  appreciated  by  reading  the  Journal. 
Altogether,  however,  the  document  is  very  creditable  to 
the  backwoods  preachers,  and  as  time  went  on  the  Journal 
gives  evidence  that  both  the  Secretary  and  the  members 
of  the  Western  Conference  are  becoming  more  versed  in 
the  orderly  management  of  their  business  and  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  affairs  of  the  Church  in  general. 

"Autobiography  of  William  Burke,  found  in  Finley's  "Sketches 
of  Western  Methodism,"  pages  18-92. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  FRONTIER  CIRCUIT  AND  THE  CIRCUIT  RIDER. 

The  earliest  circuits  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains 
had  no  fixed  boundaries,  but  were  as  broad  and  long  as 
the  settlements.  In  most  instances  settlement  did  not 
long  precede  the  coming  of  the  circuit  rider.  Occasionally 
a  new  settlement  would  send  out  a  petition  to  the  nearest 
presiding  elder  requesting  that  a  minister  be  sent  them,1 
but  in  most  cases  it  was  the  preacher  who  hunted  up  the 
congregation  rather  than  the  congregation  which  hunted 
up  the  preacher.  The  proportion  of  Church  members  in 
the  Western  settlements  was  very  small.  At  the  close  of 
the  American  Revolution  the  proportion  of  Church  mem- 
bers in  the  whole  population  of  the  United  States  has  been 
estimated  as  one  to  every  twenty-three,  but  in  the  frontier 
communities  it  was  very  probably  considerably  less  than 
that.  "The  West  was  not  settled  by  religious  colonies, 
coming  intact,  with  all  their  appliances  of  Church  and 
school,  with  the  same  teacher  and  ferrule,  the  same  chor- 
ister and  tuning  fork,  the  same  deacon  and  the  dominie 
they  had  in  staid  New  England."2  Among  the  earliest 
settlers  were  adventurers  and  not  a  few  desperate  charac- 
ters fleeing  from  the  penalties  of  the  law  in  some  older 
community  east  of  the  mountains.  More  numerous  than 
these  were  those  who  came  in  search  of  cheaper  homes  and 
larger  farms,  though  few  of  these  were  from  the  first  fam- 
ilies, but  rather  from  the  second  and  third. 

1An  example  of  a  community  petitioning  a  presiding  elder  for 
a  preacher  is  the  Whitewater  Circuit,  Indiana.  (See  Western 
Christian  Advocate,  October  15,  1845.) 

2Methodist  Review,  1857,  pages  280-296;  article  by  T.  M.  Eddy 
on  "Influence  of  Methodism  on  Civilization  and  Education  in  the 
West." 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  39 

Once  settled  in  the  West,  the  people  lived  in  the  rudest 
fashion.  The  early  cabins  were  built  of  round  logs, 
"notched  down  at  the  corners  and  rendered  tight  by 
'chinking'  them  over  with  mortar  or  clay.  The  first  cabins 
had  no  floors  but  the  earth ;  but  later  'puncheons/  or  thick 
slabs  split  out  of  logs,  hewed  smooth  on  one  side,  and  se- 
cured to  the  joists  by  great  wooden  pins,  served  as  a 
floor."8  Many  a  settler's  family  spent  their  first  winter 
in  a  three-sided  camp,  and  most  of  the  early  cabins  had 
no  windows,  but  oiled  paper  tacked  across  the  opening 
made  in  the  logs  served  instead  of  glass.  One  needs  but 
read  the  meager  accounts  of  the  cabins  in  which  Bishop 
Asbury  stopped  on  his  various  trips  across  the  moun- 
tains to  get  a  vivid  description  of  their  crowded  condi- 
tion, the  filth,  the  discomfort,  of  even  the  best  among  these 
early  homes  of  the  settlers  in  the  West.  On  his  way  to 
the  Western  Conference  in  1803  Bishop  Asbury  caught  the 
itch,  and  he  observes :  "Considering  the  filthy  houses  and 
filthy  beds  I  have  met  with,  in  coming  from  the  Kentucky 
Conference,  it  is  perhaps  strange  that  I  have  not  caught  it 
twenty  times."4  The  rude  and  heavy  doors,  made  of  split 
logs,  were  hung  on  clumsy  wooden  hinges,  and  secured  by 
a  wooden  latch  drawn  by  a  string  or  leather  thong.  One 
room  was  all  the  earliest  cabins  possessed,  though  often 
there  was. a  loft,  reached  by  a  rude  ladder,  in  which  the 
children  slept.  The  huge  fireplace  was  of  the  roughest 
construction,  often  made  of  sticks,  plastered  over  with 
mud  so  as  not  to  catch  fire. 

The  dress  of  the  people  was  as  rude  as  their  homes.  It 
was  made  of  homespun  cotton  or  "linsey-woolsey."  The 
ministers  were  likewise  clad  in  this  same  material,  though 
even  on  the  frontier  there  was  a  recognized  ministerial 
garb.    The  preachers  generally  wore  straight-breasted 

sIdid.,  1871;  article  by  Williams  on  "Early  Methodism  in  the 
West." 

4Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  119. 


40 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


coats,  high  standing  collars,  long  waistcoats,  and  the 
plainest  of  neckties.  Suspenders  were  a  luxury  which 
were  little  known  on  the  frontier.  The  preachers  likewise 
affected  a  peculiar  mode  of  hairdressing ;  from  about  mid- 
way between  the  forehead  and  the  crown  of  the  head  the 
hair  was  turned  back  and  permitted  to  grow  down  to  the 
shoulders.5 

The  frontier  cabins  were  furnished  mostly  with  home- 
made chairs,  tables,  and  beds.  The  chairs  were  hickory 
split-bottomed,  while  the  bedsteads  were  stationary,  fas- 
tened to  the  sides  of  the  cabin.  The  mattress  of  straw 
rested  upon  slats,  for  there  were  no  springs  on  the  fron- 
tier. A  well  made,  clean  bed,  with  tastefully  made  quilts 
and  high  bolsters,  snowy  white  sheets  and  blankets  was 
the  greatest  pride  of  the  frontier  housewife.  Such  were 
the  cabins  in  which  the  first  Methodist  preaching  in  the 
West  was  conducted. 

The  first  settlements  in  a  new  country  were  always  lo- 
cated along  the  banks  of  creeks  or  rivers,  generally  near 
some  good  spring.  The  reason  for  so  locating  the  settle- 
ments was  in  order  that  a  supply  of  water  might  never  run 
low  and  also  because  the  valleys  contained  the  most  fertile 
soil.  The  circuit  rider,  making  his  way  for  the  first  time 
into  a  new  country,  followed  the  path  or  trace  from  set- 
tlement to  settlement,  stopping  at  each  cabin  as  he  came 
to  it,  to  make  inquiries  as  to  the  neighborhood,  whether 
there  were  any  of  Methodist  leanings  about,  and  as  to  the 
best  place  to  hold  service.  But  the  circuit  rider  did  not 
wait  for  Methodist  families  before  he  began  his  activities ; 
he  announced  preaching  whether  there  were  any  Method- 
ists or  not. 

As  we  glance  over  the  names  of  the  early  circuits  in  the 
West,  we  notice  that  many  of  them  were  named  after 
streams.6  Of  the  nine  circuits  in  the  Western  Conference 

5"Autobiography  of  Joseph  Tarkington,"  pages  75,  85. 
°Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  I.  (1773-1828). 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  41 

in  1800,  eight  of  them  were  thus  named.  Every  circuit  in 
the  Holston  District  in  1802  bore  the  name  of  a  creek  or 
river.  The  two  earliest  circuits  in  Ohio,  the  Miami  and 
the  Scioto,  were  located  along  the  banks  of  those  two 
rivers ;  and  finally,  when  districts  were  laid  out  in  Ohio, 
they  were  called  the  Miami  and  Muskingum.  The  same  is 
true  of  Indiana.  The  two  earliest  Indiana  circuits  were 
the  Whitewater  and  the  Silver  Creek,  both,  named  after 
streams;  and  later  there  were  the  Patoka  and  the  Blue 
River  Circuits,  both  located  along  the  banks  of  the  streams 
from  which  they  received  their  names.  The  Holston  Dis- 
trict in  1811  had  four  circuits  named  after  rivers  and 
three  with  names  of  valleys.  The  Cumberland  the  same 
year  contained  four  circuits  named  after  streams;  the 
Nashville  District  had  four  similarly  named,  the  Wabash 
District  had  two,  the  Kentucky  District  four,  Salt  River 
District  two,  the  Mississippi  District  four,  the  Illinois 
District  two,  the  Miami  six,  and  the  Muskingum  District 
three.  Of  the  nine  districts  of  the  Western  Conference  in 
1811,  every  one  had  the  name  of  a  river  except  the  Nash- 
ville. 

The  earliest  circuits  in  the  West  were  either  four-,  five-, 
or  six-weeks  circuits — that  is,  it  took  the  circuit  rider  that 
length  of  time  to  make  the  rounds  of  the  circuit.  In  the 
year  1800  Henry  Smith's  circuit  covered  all  Southern  Ohio 
between  the  Ohio  and  the  Scioto  Rivers.  Benjamin  Lakin 
the  same  year  traveled  a  circuit  in  Northern  Kentucky 
extending  from  Maysville  to  the  Licking  River,  while  the 
Secretary  of  the  Conference,  William  Burke,  traveled  a 
circuit  in  Central  Kentucky  extending  a  hundred  miles 
each  way.  J ames  B.  Finley's  first  circuit,  the  Wills  Creek, 
was  four  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  around.7  In  1804 
a  preacher  was  simply  assigned  to  Illinois,  while  three 
years  later  another  indefatigable  circuit  rider  was  sent  to 


7James  B.  Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  193. 


42 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Missouri  as  his  circuit.  Tobias  Gibson  traveled  up  and 
down  the  Lower  Mississippi  for  several  hundred  miles,  and 
Elisha  Bowman  covered  a  territory,  after  the  Louisiana 
purchase,  equally  as  large.  Neither  hardship  nor  distance 
deterred  the  preachers  from  carrying  on  the  work  to  which 
they  were  assigned. 

Preaching  appointments  were  generally  for  12  o'clock, 
noon,  on  all  days  except  the  Sabbath.8  The  reason  for  this 
perhaps  was  that  on  a  clear  day  everybody  could  tell  by 
the  sun  when  it  was  noon,  for  there  were  few  clocks  and 
fewer  watches  in  a  frontier  community.  The  circuit  rider, 
as  a  rule,  preached  at  least  once  every  day,  and  his  advent 
into  a  community  w^as  the  signal  for  a  general  turn-out  of 
all  Methodist  families.9  Many  others  also  attended  the 
meeting,  even  on  week  days,  for  all  were  always  welcome. 
It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  men  and  women  to 
walk  five  or  six  miles  to  attend  class  meeting,  and  at  night 
the  same  distance  to  attend  prayer  meeting,  lighting  their 
way  through  the  woods  with  blazing  hickory  bark.  In 
summer  men  and  boys  attended  the  meetings  in  their  bare 
feet,  while  the  women  and  girls,  if  they  possessed  shoes 
and  stockings,  carried  them  in  their  hands  until  they  came 
in  sight  of  the  place  of  meeting,  then,  washing  off  the  dust 
in  the  nearest  brook  or  spring,  finished  their  toilets,  that 
they  might  appear  more  decent  in  the  company.10 

The  number  attending  the  daily  ministry  of  the  circuit 
rider  varied  writh  the  community  and  the  time  of  year. 
Generally  the  service  was  held  in  a  cabin,  with  a  chair 
for  a  pulpit,  while  the  congregation  gathered  about  the 
preacher ;  and  if  it  were  summer  time,  half  of  the  congre- 
gation would  be  on  the  outside.  Sometimes  the  minister 
would  stand  in  the  doorway,  while  the  people  would  be 

8Sweet,  "Circuit  Rider  Days  in  Indiana,"  page  48. 
9Williams,  "Pictures  of  Early  Methodism   in  Ohio,"  pages 
51-53. 

lomd.,  pages  56  ff. 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  43 

gathered  in  the  yard  of  the  cabin.  The  great  occasions 
were  the  quarterly  meetings,  when  the  sacraments  were 
administered  and  love  feasts  held.  These  meetings  be- 
gan on  Friday  evening  or  Saturday  morning  and  lasted 
through  until  Monday  morning.  People  came  from  twen- 
ty to  thirty  miles  around.  The  neighborhood  where  the 
meeting  was  to  be  held  made  simple  but  ample  provision 
for  the  entertainment.  The  larder  was  well  filled  with  all 
the  frontier  staples,  while  pies  and  cakes  were  also  pre- 
pared in  abundance.  On  the  Little  Miami,  in  the  early 
frontier  days,  it  was  customary  to  hold  a  certain  quarterly 
meeting ;  and  here  three  wealthy  families  did  all  the  enter- 
taining, often  each  providing  for  as  many  as  from  fifty  to 
a  hundred  people.  At  night  the  women  were  accommo- 
dated on  the  floor  of  the  cabins,  while  men  and  boys  re- 
paired to  the  barns,  which  had  been  swept  and  otherwise 
prepared  for  their  entertainment. 

The  preaching  at  a  quarterly  meeting  occasion  began  on 
a  Saturday  morning,  two  sermons  in  succession  being  the 
order  of  the  service.  At  night  another  preaching  service 
was  held,  at  which  the  junior  preacher  on  the  circuit 
usually  held  forth.  But  Sunday  was  the  great  day.  First 
came  the  love  feast  conducted  by  one  of  the  preachers,  and 
following  it  at  eleven  o'clock  came  the  sermon  by  the  pre- 
siding elder,  followed  by  a  sermon  from  one  of  the  circuit 
preachers.  Following  this  the  sacraments  were  adminis- 
tered, the  Lord's  Supper  and  Baptism,  wThile  the  meeting 
closed  with  a  preaching  and  prayer  service  at  night,  some- 
times lasting,  if  the  results  warranted  it,  until  near  Mon- 
day morning.  At  this  meeting  the  converts  were  gathered 
in,  sometimes  numbered  by  the  score.  The  attendance  at 
these  meetings  reached  into  the  hundreds,  and  not  infre- 
quently into  the  thousands. 

One  of  the  typical  presiding  elders  on  the  frontier  in  the 
early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  was  Samuel  Par- 


44  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


ker.11  A  native  of  New  Jersey,  he  began  to  preach  in  1800. 
He  came  West  and  joined  the  Western  Conference  in  1805, 
his  first  circuit  being  the  Hinkstone,  in  Kentucky.  As 
presiding  elder  he  served  the  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Miami, 
and  Mississippi  Districts.  His  career  was  cut  short  by 
death  in  1819,  while  engaged  on  his  district  along  the 
Mississippi.  Parker  was  a  tall,  slim,  awkward  man,  with 
large  blue  eyes  and  an  enormous  Roman  nose.  He  had  a 
long  chin  which  he  used  in  the  winter  to  hold  up  the 
blanket  which  served  him  in  lieu  of  a  greatcoat.  A  hole 
was  cut  in  the  center  of  the  blanket  large  enough  to  let 
his  small  head  through,  and  when  it  was  bitter  cold  he 
would  hang  the  fore  part  of  the  hole  on  his  chin  and  bid 
defiance  to  wind  and  cold.  And  when  his  bed  covering 
proved  insufficient,  his  blanket  was  made  to  serve  that 
purpose;  and  it  was  frequently  brought  into  use,  for  bed 
covering  was  scant,  especially  at  quarterly  meetings. 

Let  us  picture  this  homely,  awkward  frontier  preacher, 
clad  in  ill-fitting,  homespun  preacher  garb,  as  he  conducts 
the  preaching  on  a  quarterly  meeting  occasion.  He  places 
his  chair  before  him  as  his  pulpit,  and  begins  to  read  a 
hymn  in  a  soft,  charming  voice.  After  the  singing  comes 
the  prayer,  which  is  uttered  with  such  eloquence  and  pa- 
thos "that  heaven  and  earth  seem  in  juxtaposition."  And 
then  follows  the  sermon  on  the  text,  "The  upright  shall 
love  thee."  One  who  was  present  and  heard  this  very  ser- 
mon says :  "I  have  since  heard  the  most  able  divines  in  the 
country,  but  his  description  of  the  good  man's  love  to  God 
and  God's  love  to  man,  I  have  not  been  privileged  to  hear 
equaled  since,  and  indeed  I  never  expect  to  hear  anything 
this  side  of  the  throne  of  God  which  will  surpass  it."12 

Most  of  the  early  preachers  in  the  West  were  unmarried 
men;  and  according  to  William  Burke,  the  Secretary  of 

"Memorial  sketch  of  the  life  of  Samuel  Parker,  Minutes,  Vol. 
I.,  pages  358,  359. 

12Western  Christian  Advocate,  Allen  Wiley  articles,  1845-46. 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider. 


15 


the  Western  Conference,  he  was  the  first  preacher  to  travel 
as  a  married  man  west  of  the  mountains.  Not  only  were 
the  circuit  preachers  unmarried,  but  Bishop  Asbury  as 
well  as  all  of  the  bishops  until  Robert  R.  Roberts  was 
elected  in  1816  were  likewise  bachelors.  When  a  preacher 
married  he  was  usually  advised  to  locate,  for  it  was  con- 
sidered impossible  for  a  Western  circuit  to  support  a 
married  preacher.  Concerning  the  hardships  which  at- 
tended the  first  married  circuit  rider  west  of  the  moun- 
tains, we  will  let  Burke  speak:13  "From  the  9th  of  Janu- 
ary, 179G,  I  traveled  as  a  married  man,  no  allowance  being 
made  for  the  wife.  Part  of  this  time  sixty-four  dollars 
was  allowed  a  traveling  preacher,  and  he  must  find  his 
own  horse  and  fixins,  his  own  wardrobe  and  that  of  his 
wife,  together  with  her  board;  and  the  other  part  of  the 
time  it  was  eighty  dollars,  still  nothing  for  wife.  I  was 
the  first  married  preacher  in  the  West  who  traveled 
after  marrying.  I  met  with  every  discouragement  that 
could  be  thrown  in  my  way.  Preachers  and  people  said, 
'You  had  better  locate.'  I  shared  equally  with  the  single 
men  when  they  were  on  the  circuit  with  me,  in  order  to 
keep  the  peace.  .  .  .  One  winter  I  had  to  use  a  borrowed 
blanket  instead  of  a  cloak  or  overcoat." 

In  the  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference  for  1803  is 
this  entry : 

Benjamin  Lakin's  account  [of  deficiency  in  his  salary],  $28.95. 
But  it  appears  that  the  circuit  maintained  Brother  Lakin's  wife 
and  her  beast  gratis.  It  is  therefore  our  opinion  that  it  is  un- 
generous in  him  to  bring  a  demand  on  Conference;  and  seeing 
there  are  others  more  needy,  it  is  our  judgment  that  he  ought 
not  have  anything. 

Jesse  Walker's  account,  $165.37.  And  it  appears  to  us  that 
$76  are  for  children.  It  is  our  judgment  that  the  demand  for 
children  be  deducted,  and  then  he  is  deficient  $89.37.14 


'Finley,  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  page  91. 
lMS.  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference  for  1803. 


46 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


These  two  entries  illustrate  something  of  the  discourage- 
ments which  attended  the  path  of  the  married  circuit  rider 
on  the  frontier.  In  1809,  the  year  James  B.  Finley  began 
to  preach,  he  was  unable  to  find  any  place  for  his  family 
to  live  on  the  circuit,  and  he  was  compelled  to  build  a  log 
cabin,  12x14,  for  their  accommodation ;  but  he  states  that 
it  was  "sufficiently  capacious,  as  we  had  nothing  but  a  bed 
and  some  wearing  appearel.  My  funds  being  all  exhaust- 
ed, I  sold  the  boots  off  my  feet  to  purchase  provisions 
with."15 

The  amount  of  salary  allowed  each  preacher  from  1784 
to  1800  was  $64,  according  to  the  provision  of  the  Disci- 
pline. In  1792  traveling  expenses  were  added  to  this  sum. 
From  1800  to  1816  the  salary  allowed  the  traveling 
preachers  was  raised  to  $80  and  traveling  expenses;  the 
same  allowance  was  also  made  the  wives  of  traveling 
preachers,  while  children  up  to  seven  years  were  allowed 
$16  each,  and  $24  from  the  age  of  seven  to  fourteen.  In 
1816  the  salary  was  raised  to  $100.16  This  salary  was 
uniform  for  bishops,  presiding  elders,  and  circuit  riders. 
In  1808  Bishop  McKendree's  receipts  and  expenditures 
were  as  follows:  From  seven  Conferences,  $175;  salary, 
$80 ;  traveling  and  other  expenses,  $61.63 ;  leaving  $33.37, 
which  the  Bishop  was  particular  in  noting  to  be  yet  due 
the  Conferences.17 

While  this  salary  seems  pitiably  small,  yet  the  preach- 
ers on  the  frontier  had  difficulty  in  collecting  even  this 
small  amount.  The  Journals  of  the  Western  Conference 
for  every  year  of  its  twelve  years  of  history  show  long  lists 
of  deficiencies,  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  business  of 
each  session  consisted  in  dividing  up  the  small  amounts 


15Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  194. 

lcEmory,  "History  of  the  Discipline,"  pages  42,  237,  244. 

17Methodist  Review,  1871,  pages  586,  587. 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  47 

received  from  the  Chartered  Fund18  and  the  Book  Concern 
among  the  preachers  who  reported  deficiencies.  Thus  in 
1805  the  deficiencies  amounted  to  $985 ;  to  meet  this  $501 


was  obtained  from  the  following  sources : 

Collected  from  the  Circuits  $  24  87 

Draft  on  the  Charter  Fund   150  00 

Draft  on  the  Book  Fund   300  00 

Publick  collection  at  Conference   51  50 

Collection  from  the  preachers  at  Conference.  55  25 

Extra  collection  for  Brother  Bowman   10  00 


Making  a  total  of  $591  6219 


Certainly  it  was  not  a  financial  consideration  which 
drew  men  into  the  traveling  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  the  frontier  stage  of  its  history.  The  poverty 
of  the  average  frontier  preacher  is  almost  beyond  our 
comprehension.  Bishop  Asbury  states  that  at  the  session 
of  the  Western  Conference  in  1806  "the  brethren  were  in 
want,  and  could  not  suit  themselves ;  so  I  parted  with  my 
watch,  my  coat,  and  my  shirt."20  Although  the  Discipline 
called  for  traveling  expenses  and  provision  for  the  wife 
and  children  of  a  traveling  preacher,  yet,  as  Cartwright 
observes,  "the  Discipline  was  a  dead  letter  on  the  subject 
of  house  rent,  table  expenses,  and  a  dividend  for  children," 
and  it  was  not  until  1813  that  any  provision  was  made  for 
the  care  of  the  children  of  the  preachers  in  the  West ;  and 

18The  Chartered  Fund  originated  at  the  General  Conference  of 
1798.  Previous  to  this  there  had  been  a  Preacher's  Fund,  created 
by  the  payment  of  every  traveling  preacher,  on  admission  into 
full  connection  in  the  Conference,  a  sum  of  $5,  and  year  after 
year  an  additional  sum  of  $2.  The  Chartered  Fund  was  con- 
tributed by  friends,  was  funded  under  the  direction  of  trustees, 
and  the  interest  applied  to  meet  the  deficiencies  and  needs  of 
preachers,  their  wives  and  children.  (Emory,  "History  of  the 
Discipline,"  page  251.  See  also  Finley,  "Sketches  of  Western 
Methodism,"  pages  50,  51.) 

"MS.  Journal,  1805. 

20Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  206. 


48  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

then  it  was  through  the  effort  of  Bishop  Asbury,  who,  as 
Cartwright  expressed  it,  "begged  from  door  to  door  in 
the  older  Conferences  and  came  on  and  distributed  ten 
dollars  to  each  child  of  a  traveling  preacher  under  four- 
teen years  of  age."21  Peter  Cartwright  joined  the  West- 
ern Conference  in  1804,  and  in  1807  he  was  compelled  to 
return  to  the  home  of  his  father  because  he  had  no  money 
nor  clothes  and  he  also  lacked  a  horse,  saddle,  and  bridle. 
On  receiving  a  new  outfit  as  a  gift  from  his  father  he 
again  set  out  for  his  circuit,  "for  another  three  years'  ab- 
sence."22 

Although  the  salary  of  a  traveling  preacher  was  meager 
in  the  extreme,  yet  even  the  amount  which  he  received 
was  not  always  paid  in  cash.  A  typical  steward's  record 
for  a  circuit  in  Indiana  in  the  early  twenties  shows  that 
a  good  part  of  the  "salary"  was  paid  in  cloth,  corn,  leath- 
er, socks,  etc. : 


To  cash  received  from  Lewis's  class  $  0  50 

To  cash  received  from  Curtis's  class   50 

To  cash  received  from  Connerville  class   2  50 

To  cash  received  from  Abbott's  class   1  00 

To  cash  received  from  Hardy's  class   87% 

Bridle  leather  from  Hardy's  class   62% 

Cash  from  Tullis's  class   1  25 

Shoe  leather  and  corn  from  Tullis's   1  75 

Cash  from  Lower's  class   2  56% 

1  pair  of  shoe  soles  from  Lower's  class   50 

Cash  from  Robert's  class   4  65 

Cash  from  Hardy's  class   75 

2%  yards  of  linsey  from  Hardy's  class   1  12% 

Cash  from  Abbott's  class   1  32 

Cash  from  Curtis's  class   50 

7  yards  of  linen  from  Curtis's   1  75 

One  small  pair  of  shoes  from  Curtis's   1  00 

3%  yards  of  linen  from  Alley's  class   1  25 

2%  yards  of  linsey  from  Alley's  class   1  25 

8%  yards  of  linsey  from  Lewis's  class   3  27 

1  pair  of  socks  from  Lewis's  class   43% 

Cash  from  Grigg's  class   2  12% 


Total   $36  12% 


"Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  page  111. 
22IMd.,  pages  103-107. 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider. 


49 


The  quarterage  was  applied  as  follows : 

By  cash  to  A.  Cummins,  traveling  expenses.. $  0  50 

By  cash  J.  Havens,  traveling  expenses   1  50 

To  A.  Cummins,  allowances   3  75 

To  J.  Havens,  allowances    30  37^ 


Total   $36  12V22a 

Among  the  common  occurrences  on  a  frontier  circuit 
were  the  religious  controversies.  The  salient  points  of 
Methodist  theology  were  always  emphasized  in  the  preach- 
ing and  prayers  of  the  circuit  rider.  Nor  were  the  Bap- 
tists, the  Presbyterians,  the  Shakers,  the  New  Lights  any 
the  less  emphatic  in  emphasizing  their  peculiarities.  In 
fact,  the  differences  in  doctrine  had  far  greater  emphasis 
laid  upon  them  than  in  these  days. 

The  greatest  opponents  of  Methodist  theology  were  the 
Calvinists,  as  represented  particularly  by  the  Presbyte- 
rians. Some  of  the  controversies  with  the  Presbyterians 
were  extremely  bitter,  rendered  more  so  by  the  fact  that 
the  Presbyterian  ministry  were  far  better  educated  than 
were  the  Methodist  preachers,  and  in  consequence  they 
assumed  an  arrogance  in  their  discussions  which  the 
Methodists  greatly  resented.  There  are  numerous  in- 
stances, however,  where  Presbyterians  and  Methodists  got 
on  well  together.  Bishop  Asbury  was  particularly  friend- 
ly toward  them,  had  numerous  friends  among  the  Presby- 
terian clergy,  and  frequently  requested  them  to  preach  at 
Methodist  meetings  where  he  presided.  Particularly  was 
this  true  after  the  great  revival  in  the  West  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  nineteenth  century,  in  which  the  Presbyterians 
and  Methodists  had  drawn  closer  together.24 

2aWestern  Christian  Advocate,  November  21,  1860;  article  by 
F.  C.  Holliday. 

24"I  dined  with  Mr.  Ramsey,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  at  bis 
own  house  on  Friday;  and  he  witb  me  to-day  at  my  lodgings; 
we  bad  quite  a  Christian  interview."    ( Asbury 's  Journal,  Vol. 
III.,  page  80.)    At  the  Conference  in  Tennessee  in  1802  Bisbop 
4 


50  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Perhaps  the  most  notorious  controversy  between  Meth- 
odists and  Presbyterians  during  the  life  of  the  Western 
Conference  was  one  which  occurred  in  Cincinnati  follow- 
ing the  session  of  the  Conference  in  that  city  in  1811. 
While  the  Conference  was  in  session  three  of  the  younger 
members,  Peter  Cartwright,  Thomas  Stilwell,  and  Samuel 
Griffin,  took  advantage  of  their  stay  in  the  city  to  have 
some  pamphlets  printed  against  Calvinism.25  One  of  the 
pamphlets  was  in  poetical  form,  or  rather  doggerel,  and 
was  entitled  "The  Dagon  of  Calvinism ;  or,  The  Molock  of 
Decrees :  A  Poem  in  Three  Cantos."  It  had  been  written 
in  New  England  by  a  man  who  had  never  been  a  Meth- 
odist, and  was  reprinted  in  Cincinnati  without  the  knowl- 
edge or  approval  of  the  Conference.  Cartwright  states 
that  his  reason  for  printing  the  pamphlets  was  to  answer 
pamphlets  which  had  been  circulated  in  Kentucky  ridicul- 
ing and  caricaturing  Methodist  doctrine.  One  such  Pres- 
byterian pamphlet  was  entitled  "A  Dialogue  between  Cal- 
vinists  and  Arminians."  Another  Presbyterian  had  writ- 
ten against  Lorenzo  Dow's  "Chain,"  in  which  strong  pre- 
destination sentiments  were  presented.  In  answer  to 
these  there  had  already  appeared  anonymously  a  pam- 
phlet entitled  "A  Useful  Discovery;  or,  I  Never  Saw  the 
Like  Before,"  which  was  a  complete  satire  on  Calvinist 
doctrine.  This  last  pamphlet  Cartwright  and  his  associ- 
ates had  reprinted  at  Cincinnati  at  the  same  time  as  "The 
Dagon  of  Calvinism." 

Asbury  was  too  sick  to  preach,  and  he  asked  two  Presbyterian 
ministers  to  "supply  my  lack  of  public  service,  which  they  did 
with  great  fervency  and  fidelity."  (Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  81.) 
Frequently  Presbyterians  offered  their  churches  for  Methodist 
meetings  and  not  infrequently  for  Bishop  Asbury  to  preach. 

25An  account  of  this  controversy  will  be  found  in  Williams's 
"Pictures  of  Early  Methodism  in  Ohio,"  Chap.  VIII.,  pages  156- 
186.  Also  in  Cartwright's  "Fifty  Years  a  Presiding  Elder,"  Chap, 
IV.,  pages  92-193, 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  51 


This  sorry  controversial  matter  was  soou  thrown  broad- 
cast over  Southern  Kentucky  and  created  considerable 
stir  in  Presbyterian  circles.  The  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Cincinnati  took  the  matter  up  and 
held  the  Western  Conference  as  responsible.  Letters  were 
exchanged  between  him  and  the  Methodist  pastors  of 
Cincinnati,  which  tended  to  increase  the  bitterness,  while 
Cartwright  received  a  long  letter  anonymously  written — 
supposedly  by  two  Presbyterian  ministers — which  pur- 
ports to  be  written  by  the  devil.  In  this  pamphlet  Cart- 
wright  is  considered  the  devil's  faithful  servant,  because 
of  his  activity  against  Calvinist  doctrine.  To  this  pam- 
phlet Cartwright  replied,  addressing  his  letter  "To  the 
Right  Honorable,  The  Devil,"  and  beginning,  "If  I  am  to 
answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  permit  me  to  answer 
a  devil  according  to  his  malice;  therefore  expect  plain 
language." 

The  chief  differences  between  Methodists  and  Baptists 
arose  over  the  question  of  immersion  as  necessary  to  sal- 
vation and  the  Baptist  practice  of  close  communion.  Cart- 
wright complains  that  the  Baptists  were  great  proselyters, 
and  that  after  Methodists  had  begun  a  meeting  in  a  wicked 
community  the  Baptists  would  then  come  and  preach 
"Water!"  "Water!"  "Water!"  and  during  the  absence  of 
the  preachers  at  other  points  on  the  circuit  they  would 
attempt  to  rush  the  recent  converts  into  the  water.  "They 
made  so  much  ado  about  baptism  by  immersion,"  he  says, 
"that  the  uninformed  would  suppose  that  heaven  was  an 
island,  and  there  was  no  way  to  get  there  but  by  diving  or 
swimming."  But  even  Cartwright  has  a  good  word  for 
some  of  the  Baptist  preachers  and  people  on  the  frontier.26 

Other  sects  with  which  the  frontier  Methodists  came 
into  contact  and  often  conflict  were  the  "Campbellites," 

26 Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages  133-138.  For  a  good  ex- 
ample of  the  type  of  controversy  carried  on  between  Methodists 
and  Baptists  see  Cartwright's  "Autobiography,"  pages  150,  151, 


52 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Universalists,  and  Shakers.  All  the  Protestant  denorar 
nations  joined  in  opposing  the  Universalists ;  in  fact,  op- 
position to  Universalist  doctrine  was  about  the  only  com- 
mon theological  ground  on  which  the  several  sects  could 
stand.  Debates  on  religious  and  theological  subjects  were 
commonly  held,  continuing  night  after  night  while  the 
people  gathered  in  great  crowds  to  support  their  particular 
theological  champion.  A  certain  debate  in  Indiana  be- 
tween a  Methodist  and  Universalist  in  the  early  day  last- 
ed three  days.  In  the  course  of  the  debate  the  Universalist 
painted  a  hell  for  the  Methodist  champion  and  his  breth- 
ren to  look  at,  and  then  flung  into  it  all  the  human  race 
that  orthodoxy  excluded  from  heaven.  The  Methodist 
replied  by  sending  Judas  to  heaven  before  his  Lord  and 
carried  all  liars,  lechers,  seducers,  and  murderers  to 
Abraham's  bosom,  "all  bedeviled  and  unrepentent  as  they 
were." 

The  Shakers  were  a  communistic  sect  very  active  in 
Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  Indiana  in  the  early  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  They  did  not  recognize  marriage  as 
a  Christian  institution  and  held  to  other  strange  notions. 
The  Methodist  circuit  rider  was  a  deadly  enemy  of  this 
delusion  and  took  every  opportunity  of  openly  opposing 
them.  From  the  Methodist  standpoint  they  seemed  the 
very  outcast  among  the  sects.  There  was  a  settlement  of 
Shakers  on  the  Lower  Wabash,  in  Indiana,  at  a  place 
called  Busroe.27  To  this  settlement  had  come  Kentucky 
immigrants,  among  whom  were  Methodists,  Baptists,  and 
Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Some  of  them  had  joined  the 
Shakers,  while  others  remained  steadfast  to  their  former 
faith.  Cartwright  came  over  from  Kentucky  to  this  set- 
tlement for  the  purpose  of  saving  the  remaining  Method- 
ists from  falling  into  "the  muddy  pools  of  Shakerism." 
Oh  arriving  in  the  settlement  he  challenged  the  Shaker 

27The  Shakers  were  officially  known  as  "The  United  Society 
of  Believers  in  Christ's  Second  Coming." 


The  Frontier  Cwcmt  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  53 

"priests"  to  a  debate,  but  no  one  answered  the  challenge. 
The  meeting,  however,  was  held,  nevertheless,  and  for 
three  hours  Cartwright  held  forth,  "until  the  very  foun- 
dations of  every  Shaker  present  were  shaken  from  under 
him."  As  a  result  of  this  meeting  forty-seven  former 
Shakers  gave  their  names  to  the  Methodist  Church  and  a 
class  was  immediately  organized.28 

Such  contests  developed  a  remarkable  quickness  of  wit 
among  the  frontier  preachers.  At  New  Harmony,  on  the 
Lower  Wabash  in  Indiana,  there  had  been  established  a 
communistic  community  by  the  Rappites,  a  German  sect. 
Later  the  Rappites  sold  out  their  interest  to  Robert  Owen, 
a  Scotch  mill  owner,  who  was  interested  in  founding  a 
socialistic  community.  On  one  occasion  a  Methodist  cir- 
cuit rider  was  preaching  in  the  hall  at  New  Harmony, 
which  was  open  to  all  denominations  or  to  any  one  who 
had  any  message  to  give.  It  was  the  custom  of  a  certain 
member  of  the  community  to  rise  in  the  meeting  and  ques- 
tion the  speakers.  He  accordingly  arose  while  James 
Armstrong,  a  Methodist  preacher,  was  preaching  and  pro- 
pounded the  question,  "How  do  you  know  you  have  a 
soul?"  To  this  Armstrong  replied,  "I  feel  it."  "Did  you 
ever  smell,  taste,  see,  or  hear  your  soul?"  said  the  ques- 
tioner. "No,"  said  Armstrong.  "Then  you  have  four 
senses  against  you,"  replied  the  skeptic.  Armstrong  then 
propounded  this  question  to  his  questioner:  "Mr.  Jen- 
nings, did  you  ever  have  the  toothache?"  "Yes,"  said 
Jennings.  "Did  you  ever  smell,  taste,  see,  or  hear  the 
toothache?"  asked  the  preacher.  "No,"  replied  Jennings. 
"Then,"  said  Armstrong,  "you  have  four  senses  against 
you."29 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  early  Methodist 
preachers,  particularly  in  the  West,  were  very  ignorant 
men,  and  it  is  true  that  many  of  them  lacked  school  edu- 

28Cartwright,  pages  53-55. 

29Autobiography  of  Rev.  Joseph  Tarkington,  104. 


54  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

cation ;  but  to  say  that  they  were  ignorant  men  is  far  from 
the  truth.  They  were  uneducated  in  the  sense  in  which 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  an  uneducated  man ;  but,  like  Lin- 
coln, they  became  trained  men  in  the  truest  sense  of  the 
word.  Bishop  Asbury  was  not  a  college-bred  man,  but  he 
was  far  from  being  an  uneducated  or  unlearned  preacher. 
He  was  constantly  occupied  with  some  book.30  He  always 
carried  books  in  his  saddlebags,  as  did  all  the  circuit  rid- 
ers. The  list  of  books  which  he  found  time  to  read  as  he 
rode  from  place  to  place  is  a  long  one,  and  contains  not 
only  books  on  religious  subjects,  but  also  history,  biogra- 
phy, literature,  and  even  books  on  medicine.  While  the 
education  of  the  average  circuit  rider  was  extremely  lim- 
ited, yet  somehow  they  became  efficient  interpreters  of  a 
larger  life,  and  as  a  class  developed  a  keenness  of  mind 
and  a  readiness  of  wit  that  finds  few  equals.  They  were 
men  of  few  books,  but  they  absorbed  the  few  they  pos- 
sessed. The  books  with  which  they  became  most  familiar 
were  the  Bible,  the  Discipline,  Wesley's  Sermons,  and 
Fletcher's  "Appeal." 

The  eloquence  of  these  pioneers  was  not  the  kind 
learned  in  schools  or  from  the  study  of  books.  There  is 
no  better  way  to  account  for  it  than  to  let  John  Strange, 
a  prince  among  Western  preachers,  tell  of  the  school  in 
which  he  learned  it.  His  Alma  Mater,  said  he,  was  "Brush 
College,  more  ancient,  though  less  pretentious,  than  Yale, 
Harvard,  or  Princeton.  Here  I  graduated,  and  I  love  her 
memory  still.  Her  academic  groves  are  the  boundless 
forests  and  prairies  of  these  Western  wilds;  her  Pierian 
springs  are  the  gushing  fountains  from  the  rocks  and 
mountain  fastnesses;  her  Arcadian  groves  and  Orphic 
songs  are  the  wildwoods,  and  the  birds  of  every  color  and 
every  song,  relieved  now  and  then  with  the  bass  hootings 

30Tipple,  "Francis  Asbury,  the  Prophet  of  the  Long  Road," 
pages  90-106.  The  author  here  gives  a  list  of  the  boohs  read  and 
studied  by  Asbury,  with  his  comments  upon  them. 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  55 

of  the  night  owl  and  the  weird  treble  of  the  whippoorwill ; 
her  curriculum  its  the  philosophy  of  nature  and  the  mys- 
teries of  redemption;  her  library  is  the  word  of  God,  the 
Discipline,  the  hymn  book,  supplemented  with  trees  and 
brooks  and  stones,  all  of  which  are  full  of  wisdom  and 
sermons  and  speeches;  and  her  parchments  of  literary 
honors  are  the  horse  and  the  saddlebags."31 

The  type  of  preaching  practiced  by  the  early  circuit 
riders  in  the  West  is  hard  to  define.  The  general  concep- 
tion of  Methodist  preaching  of  the  time  seems  to  be  that 
it  was  wild  and  incoherent,  with  little  that  appealed  to 
thinking  people.  This  may  have  been  true  of  the  preach- 
ing of  a  few,  but  it  could  hardly  be  considered  character- 
istic. The  preachers  were  often  vigorous  and  noisy,  but 
most  of  them  had  regard  for  the  decencies  of  public  wor- 
ship and  did  not  countenance  the  extravagant.  As  a  rule 
preaching  was  of  a  doctrinal  character.  They  believed 
and  preached  the  doctrine  of  the  fall  of  man ;  all  men  were 
conceived  and  born  in  sin,  and  Jesus  Christ  died  for  all, 
with  the  emphasis  upon  the  "all."  This  was  by  way  of 
contrast  with,  the  Calvinists,  who  preached  a  limited 
salvation.  They  also  emphasized  the  doctrine  of  per- 
sonal responsibility.  They  proclaimed  the  "free  will" 
of  the  individual,  that  every  person  had  the  power  of 
choice.  "So  then  every  one  of  us  must  give  an  account 
of  himself  to  God,"  was  a  favorite  text  of  the  circuit 
preacher,  and  many  a  reckless  frontiersman  has  quailed 
under  the  burning  sermons  preached  from  that  text. 
Then  they  bore  down  upon  the  doctrine  of  regenera- 
tion also,  that  the  soul  can  be  newly  created  and 
transformed;  and  this  was  not  simply  a  change  of 
purpose,  but  a  change  of  character.    This  was  conver- 

81For  a  description  of  John  Strange  and  his  method  of  preach- 
ing see  an  article  by  W.  C.  Smith  on  "John  Strange  at  Camp- 
Meetings,"  Western  Christian  Advocate,  June  23,  1858;  also  J.  C. 
Smith,  "Early  Methodism  in  Indiana,"  pages  38,  39. 


56  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

sion,  the  "new  birth"  of  which  Methodists  had  much  to 
say,  and  taught  it  on  all  occasions,  as  necessary  for 
entrance  into  the  kingdom.  They  preached  also  that 
conversion  must  be  manifested  and  become  a  matter 
of  one's  own  personal  consciousness.  "Being  faithful" 
was  the  term  which  summed  up  for  the  Methodists 
correct  living;  and  the  opposite,  "backsliding,"  was  a 
term  which  described  the  state  of  a  Methodist  who, 
having  once  been  "converted,"  had  failed  "to  be  faith- 
ful." The  preaching  of  these  rude  preachers  was 
abundantly  practical  and  touched  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity at  every  point. 

Frontier  Methodists  were  extremely  fond  of  hymn- 
singing;  they  sang  hymns  in  their  homes,  about  their 
work,  at  their  family  altars,  as  well  as  in  their  meet- 
ings. The  Methodists  had  an  official  Hymn  Book 
dating  from  the  organization  of  the  Church,  in  1784; 
but  there  were  few  of  these  books  on  the  frontier, 
except  with  the  preachers.  Frequently  no  one  in  a 
congregation  possessed  a  hymn  book  except  the  preach- 
er, who  gave  out  the  verses  to  be  sung,  two  lines  at  a 
time.  Many  of  the  hymns,  however,  were  well  known, 
and  except  in  the  public  congregation  were  sung  with- 
out the  process  of  being  lined  out.  Aside  from  the 
hymns  found  in  the  Church  hymnal  there  grew  up  on 
the  frontier  a  great  number  of  improvised  hymns. 
At  the  beginning  of  a  camp  meeting  the  regular  hymns 
would  be  sung;  but  as  the  meeting  warmed  up  hymns, 
or  "spiritual  songs,"  as  they  were  termed,  many  times 
improvised  by  the  preachers  on  the  spot,  were  used. 
These  songs  were  very  imperfect  in  rhyme,  rude  in  ex- 
pression, and  to  us  to-day  seem  totally  impossible; 
but  they  were  learned  by  the  people  and  often  used 
in  place  of  the  older  and  more  worthy  hymns.  Many 
of  these  frontier  hymns  have  been  lost,  for  some  of 
them  never  appeared  in  print,  but  a  few  have  come 


The  Frontier  Circuit  and  the  Circuit  Rider.  57 

down  to  us,  preserved  in  an  old  song  book,  first  printed 
in  1810.  Two  of  the  frontier  preachers  who  obtained 
a  reputation  as  song  writers  were  John  A.  Grenade 
and  Caleb  J.  Taylor,  both  of  whom  wrote  a  number 
of  (hymns  found  in  this  little  volume. 

The  theme  of  these  crude  frontier  hymns  varied. 
Sometimes  they  described  a  camp  meeting  scene,  as 
does  this  song  written  by  Taylor: 

Sinners  through  the  camp  are  falling, 

Deep  distress  their  souls  pervade, 
Wondering  why  they  are  not  rolling 

In  the  dark  infernal  shade. 
Grace  and  mercy,  long  neglected, 

Now  they  ardently  implore; 
In  an  hour  when  least  expected 

Jesus  bids  them  weep  no  more. 

Hear  them  then  their  God  extolling, 

Tell  the  wonders  he  has  done; 
While  they  rise,  see  others  falling! 

Light  into  their  hearts  hath  shone. 
Prayer  and  praise,  and  exhortation, 

Blend  in  one  perpetual  sound; 
Music  sweet  beyond  expression, 

To  rejoicing  saints  around.82 

More  often,  however,  the  theme  of  these  camp  meeting 
songs  was  "divine  mercy"  or  "saving  grace,"  of  which 
the  following  by  John  A.  Grenade  is  a  sample: 

Think  of  what  your  Saviour  bore 

In  the  gloomy  garden, 
Sweating  blood  at  every  pore, 

To  procure  thy  pardon; 
See  Him  stretched  upon  the  wood, 

Bleeding,  grieving,  crying; 
Suffering  all  the  wrath  of  God, 

Groaning,  gasping,  dying. 


82"The  Early  Camp-Meeting  Song  Writers,"  by  Fry,  Methodist 
Review,  1859,  pages  401-413. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  CIRCUIT  RIDER  AS  A  FACTOR  IN  FRONTIER  SOCIETY. 

All  historians  recognize  the  importance  of  the  ac- 
tivities of  the  Jesuits  in  the  early  history  of  Canada, 
and  the  Great  Lakes  region  of  the  United  States  par- 
ticularly. Their  story  has  been  admirably  told  by 
one  of  America's  greatest  historians,  Francis  Park- 
man;  while  the  documents  relating  to  their  activities 
have  been  gathered  together  by  another  American  his- 
torian, Eeuben  Gold  Thwaites,  in  that  remarkable 
series  of  volumes  known  as  the  "Jesuit  Relations." 
The  equally  important  activities  of  the  early  circuit 
riders  in  the  West,  however,  have  as  yet  received  little 
recognition  from  historians;  while  the  documents  re- 
lating to  their  labors  have  been  scattered  to  the  four 
winds  and  the  complete  story  of  their  lives  and  work 
remains  yet  to  be  written.1  A  distinguished  jurist,  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  one  of  the  Central  West- 
ern States,  was  accustomed  to  say  years  ago,  "But  for 
the  Methodist  Church  and  the  Methodist  ministry,  this 
country  would  have  sunk  into  barbarism."  While  this 
assertion  may  be  somewhat  too  sweeping  in  all  its  im- 
plications, yet  an  examination  of  the  activities  and  in- 
fluences which  emanated  from  the  Methodist  Church  on 
the  frontier  in  the  latter  years  of  the  eighteenth  and 
the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  centuries  will  go  far 
toward   substantiating  the  declaration.     It  has  only 

1Perhaps  the  best  appreciation  of  frontier  Methodism  written 
by  a  non-Methodist  appeared  in  the  French  Revue  des  Deux 
Monde*,  by  M.  Cucheval-Clevigny,  which  was  translated  and  pub- 
lished in  the  Methodist  Review  (1854,  pages  556,  577;  1855,  pages 
69-88).  The  original  articles  in  the  French  Revue  appeared  soon 
after  the  publication  of  Cartwright's  "Autobiography." 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  59 

been  in  recent  years,  (however,  that  the  historian  has 
even  begun  to  give  credit  to  the  rude  preachers  of  right- 
eousness on  the  frontier.  Recently  American  history  text- 
books have  been  published  in  which  Cartwright's  "Auto- 
biography" and  Branson's  "Western  Pioneer"  have  been 
cited  as  reading  references. 

As  has  already  been  pointed  out,  the  Methodist  plan 
of  organization  was  exactly  suited  to  a  new  country 
and  a  scattered  population.  Frontier  society  was  in 
a  state  of  flux,  but  the  ministers  of  the  Methodist 
Church  were  equally  mobile  and  were  just  as  much  at 
home  whether  society  were  on  the  move  or  stationary. 
It  seems  probable  that  no  other  system  could  have  met 
the  conditions;  at  least  no  other  did.  The  circuit  rider 
was  equally  at  home  in  the  saddle,  in  the  rude  cabin 
of  the  settler,  in  the  Indian  lodge,  or  out  under  the 
wide-spreading  branches  of  the  beeches  and  maples. 
He  worked  at  his  never-ending  task  not  for  personal 
glory  or  for  "salary,"  but  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
spread  of  the  gospel.  Often  he  reached  the  emigrant 
before  the  roof  was  on  his  cabin  or  the  clay  in  the 
stick  chimney  dry.  The  whole  Western  country  was 
laid  out  into  circuits  and  districts,  and  into  each  ob- 
scure settlement  came  at  stated  times  the  circuit  rider, 
at  longer  intervals  came  the  presiding  elder,  and  once 
each  year,  into  the  Western  country,  came  the  bishop, 
preaching,  ordaining,  and  holding  the  sacraments.  And 
to  the  camp  meetings,  the  quarterly  meetings,  and  the 
Conferences  flocked  the  people  of  the  frontier.  They 
often  came  long  distances,  on  foot,  in  their  rude  wag- 
ons, on  horseback,  men,  women,  and  children. 

What  was  the  influence  upon  Western  society  exerted  by 
these  devoted  men,  organized  as  they  were  into  an  effective 
machine  for  spreading  the  gospel  ?  It  goes  almost  without 
saying  that  they  exerted  a  powerful  influence  for  religion 
and  righteousness.    They  preached  a  theology  greatly 


60  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

needed  in  a  new  country,  infested,  as  all  new  countries 
are,  with  rough  and  many  times  criminal  characters. 
The  great  doctrine,  urged  on  all  occasions,  was  that  of 
"conversion,"  a  change  of  life  and  heart.  They  pro- 
claimed all  men  to  be  sinners  and  that  salvation  lay 
only  through  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  an  extremely  prac- 
tical gospel  they  proclaimed;  a  gospel  which  manifested 
itself  in  the  daily  life  of  the  convert.  It  was  "by  their 
fruits"  they  were  known,  and  thus  in  a  rough  and  rude 
community  they  brought  the  softening  influences  of 
Christianity. 

The  circuit  rider  was  also  a  powerful  influence  in 
maintaining  law  and  order.  He  always  had  the  great- 
est respect  for  law,  both  of  the  Church,  of  the  State, 
and  of  the  nation.  The  Methodist  system  of  Church 
government,  devised  by  John  Wesley  and  brought  to 
America  by  Francis  Asbury,  was  a  most  thorough  and 
efficient  system.  Asbury  was  not  so  great  a  preacher 
as  he  was  an  organizer;  and  he  stood  always  for  obe- 
dience to  the  laws  of  the  Church.2  Order  was  his  pas- 
sion, and  the  introduction  of  such  an  orderly  system 
into  more  or  less  disorderly  communities  must  have 
had  far-reaching  influence.  The  circuit  rider  stood  for 
decency  and  order  in  public  worship,  and  many  times 
took  the  leading  part  in  preserving  it.  Of  one  of  the 
presiding  elders  on  the  frontier  it  has  been  said  by  one 
who  knew  him  that  "he  would  not  suffer  anything 
which  was  manifestly  enthusiastic  or  extravagant  in 
religious  assemblies  to  pass  without  rebuke.  .  .  .His 
nice  sense  of  propriety  induced  him  to  keep  the  very 
best  order  at  the  meetings  superintended  by  him. 

At  many  a  camp  meeting  the  preachers  were  compelled 
to  resort  to  force  to  preserve  order.    The  following  ac- 


2Tipple,  "Francis  Asbury,  the  Prophet  of  the  Long  Road," 
pages  241,  242. 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  61 

count  of  such  a  scene  is  typical.  At  a  camp  meeting 
near  Marietta,  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1806  a  crowd  of 
"rabble  and  rowdies,"  as  Cartwright  describes  them, 
came  on  a  Sunday  morning,  "armed  with  dirks,  clubs, 
knives,  and  horsewhips,  and  swore  they  would  break  up 
the  meeting."  While  Cartwright  was  preaching,  one 
of  the  rowdies  stood  up  on  a  seat  and  began  to  talk 
and  laugh.  The  preacher  ordered  him  down,  but  with 
oaths  he  refused.  The  magistrates  were  afraid  to  ar- 
rest the  roughs,  so  the  preachers  were  compelled  to  in- 
terfere. After  a  general  scuffle,  in  which  the  friends 
of  law  and  order  stood  by  the  preachers,  the  roughs 
were  put  to  flight,  though  not  until  some  thirty  had 
been  captured,  and  on  Monday  nearly  three  hundred 
dollars  was  collected  in  fines  and  costs.3 

Nor  is  this  an  unusual  circumstance.  Finley  de- 
scribes a  similar  scene  where  "about  twenty  lewd  fel- 
lows of  the  baser  sort"  came  to  a  camp  meeting  intoxi- 
cated, with  the  avowed  purpose  of  breaking  up  the 
meeting,  tout  only  to  find  that  the  preachers  and  the 
Methodist  brethren  were  more  than  their  match.4 

Not  only  did  the  circuit  rider  stand  for  law  and  or- 
der, but  he  also  stood  for  moderation  in  religious  prac- 
tices. It  has  been  the  general  conception  that  the  early 
frontier  preachers  desired  to  work  the  people  up  to  a 
state  of  religious  frenzy  at  every  meeting,  and  that  they 
took  special  delight  in  isuch  strange  exercises  as  the 
"jerks,"  the  "holy  laugh,"  the  "barking  exercise,"  and 
that  they  encouraged  trances  and  visions;  but  this  is 
an  entire  misconception.  None  of  the  preachers  ob- 
jected to  hearty  shouts  during  their  preaching,  but  there 
were  few  fanatics  among  them,  and  what  few  of  that 
sort  did  creep  into  the  ministry  were  soon  weeded  out 

3Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages  90-92" 
4Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  252. 


62  The  Rise  of  Metloodism  in  the  West. 

by  the  watchful  presiding  elders.  At  a  certain  camp 
meeting  conducted  in  the  West  "there  were  many  .  .  . 
strange  and  wild  exercises  into  which  the  subjects  of  this 
revival  fell;  such,  for  instance,  as  .  .  .  the  running, 
jumping,  and  barking  exercise.  The  Methodist  preachers 
generally  t>  reached  against  this  extravagant  wildness." 
Cartwright  states:  "I  did  it  uniformly  in  my  ministra- 
tions, and  sometimes  gave  great  offense."5 

Western  morality  was  extremely  loose,  and  in  many 
communities  little  attempt  was  made  to  preserve  order 
or  uphold  decent  morality  by  the  civil  authorities.  "Trav- 
elers from  the  East  were  shocked  at  the  balls,  the 
drinking,  the  fighting,  and  the  utter  disregard  paid  to 
the  Sabbath  day.  Good  people  were  terrified  at  the 
drunkenness,  the  vice,  the  gambling,  the  brutal  fights, 
the  gouging,  the  needless  duels  they  beheld  on  every 
hand."6  In  the  face  of  this  looseness  the  Methodist 
Church  maintained  and  proclaimed  an  unbending  moral- 
ity. The  circuit  rider  waged  war  with  vice  of  every  sort  . 
Not  content  with  renouncing  sin  in  general,  he  often 
came  to  particulars,  called  out  names  in  meeting,  de- 
nounced sinners  to  their  very  face,  and  called  upon 
them  to  repent.  The  Methodist  Church  was  the  original 
Temperance  Society  in  the  West,  if  not  in  the  nation. 
The  General  Rules  formulated  by  John  Wesley  were 
adopted  by  tihe  American  Church  at  its  organization  in 
1784.  Among  them  was  one  forbidding  "drunkenness,  buy- 
ing or  selling  of  spirituous  liquors,  or  drinking  them,  un- 
less in  cases  of  necessity."7  In  addition  to  this  rule  the 
American  Church  adopted  another,  forbidding  members 
from  distilling  grain  into  liquor  and  advised  the  preacher^ 
strongly  to  persuade  their  members  from  drinking  drams. 


°Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages  51,  52. 

eMcMaster,  Vol.  II.,  pages  152,  578. 

7Emory,  "History  of  the  Discipline,"  pages  181,  192. 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  63 

Temperance  was  a  theme  unheard  and  unthought  of 
outside  the  pale  of  the  Methodist  Church.  No  other 
Church  had  legislation  covering  the  subject,  but  it 
was  left  to  the  individual  to  use  bis  discretion  regard- 
ing the  matter.  As  a  result  of  the  attitude  toward 
liquor  taken  by  the  Methodist  Church,  and  the  fact  that 
the  other  Churches  had  nothing  to  say  upon  the  subject, 
it  followed  "as  a  necessary  consequence  that  all  persons 
who  refused  to  drink  were  called,  by  way  of  reproach, 
Methodist  fanatics."8  The  strange  doctrine  of  antino- 
mianism9  had  early  gained  foothold  in  the  West  and 
had  been  fostered  by  Church  organizations  and  de- 
fended from  the  pulpit.  This  doctrine  was  preached 
particularly  by  certain  branches  of  the  Baptists.  Moral 
reform  they  proclaimed  as  a  presumptuous  intermed- 
dling with  the  Divine  plans.  Alcohol  was  termed  a 
"good  creature  of  God  to  be  received  with  thanksgiv- 
ing."10 A  certain  prominent  preacher  of  the  anti-means 
doctrine  destroyed  the  confidence  of  his  flock  in  his 
sincerity  by  erecting  lightning  rods  on  his  buildings. 
He  saw  no  need  of  "means"  to  save  his  soul,  but  did 
to  save  his  oats  and  buckwheat.  At  one  time  on  the 
frontier  at  a  certain  Church  meeting  of  an  antinomian 
congregation  one  member  was  expelled  for  habitual 
drunkenness  and  another  for  being  a  member  of  a  tem- 
perance society,  which  led  a  too  curious  member  to  ask, 
"How  much  liquor  must  he  drink  to  retain  his  standing 
in  the  Church,  since  drinking  too  much  and  drinking 
none  at  all  were  both  capital  crimes?" 

At  the  time  the  Methodist  Church  was  established  in 
the  West  practically  every  one  drank  liquor.  "Ardent 

8Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  249. 

9An  "antinomian"  is  one  who  maintains  that  under  the  gospel 
dispensation  the  moral  law  is  of  no  use  or  obligation,  on  the 
ground  that  faith  alone  is  necessary  to  salvation. 

10#tethodist  Review,  April,  1857,  pages  287,  288, 


64  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

spirits  were  used  as  a  preventive  of  disease.  It  was 
also  regarded  as  a  necessary  beverage.  A  house  could 
not  be  raised,  a  field  of  wheat  could  not  be  cut  down, 
nor  could  there  be  a  log-rolling,  a  husking,  a  quilting, 
a  wedding,  or  a  funeral  without  the  aid  of  alcohol."11 
Cartwright  adds  his  testimony  to  the  prevalence  of 
liquor-drinking  on  the  frontier:  "From  my  earliest  rec- 
ollection drinking  drams,  in  family  and  social  circles, 
was  considered  harmless  and  allowable  socialities.  It 
was  almost  universally  the  custom  for  preachers,  in 
common  with  all  others,  to  take  drams;  and  if  a  man 
would  not  have  it  in  his  family,  his  harvest,  his  house- 
raisings,  log-rollings,  weddings,  and  so  on,  he  was  con- 
sidered parsimonious  and  unsociable;  and  many,  even 
professors  of  Christianity,  would  not  help  a  man  if 
he  did  not  have  spirits  and  treat  the  company."12 

The  difficulty  of  transporting  grain  to  market  over 
the  rough  frontier  roads  led  the  farmers  to  distill  it 
into  whisky.  Whisky-making  was  very  common  in  the 
AVest  in  the  early  days.  In  1810  there  were  twenty-eight 
distilleries  in  Indiana  territory,  turning  out  35,950  gal- 
Jons13  of  whisky  a  year,  to  say  nothing  of  the  domestic 
distilleries  where  whisky  was  made  for  home  consump- 
tion. It  was  the  prevailing  opinion  on  the  frontier  that 
whisky  was  a  preventive  of  the  diseases  common  to  the 
frontier,14  such  as  ague  and  fever,  and  great  quantities 
were  consumed,  avowedly  for  that  purpose.  Distilled 
liquors  were  continually  in  use  as  tonics,  even  among 
those  who  were  otherwise  strictly  temperate  and  ab- 
stemious. 

A  certain  local  preacher  in  Tennessee  was  accused 

"Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  248. 
12Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  page  212. 

"Logan  Esarey,  "History  of  Indiana"  (Indianapolis,  1915), 
Vol.  L,  page  179. 

14Williams,  "Methodism  in  Ohio,"  page  25. 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  05 


of  drinking  too  much  at  weddings.  After  much  difficul- 
ty the  circuit  preacher  succeeded  in  getting  a  committee 
of  local  preachers,  who  themselves  were  not  dram  drink- 
ers, to  try  the  accused  brother.  Testimony  was  given 
proving  that  he  drank  often  and  had  been  drunk  on 
several  occasions,  and  accordingly  he  was  suspended 
until  the  next  Quarterly  Conference,  when  he  was  ex- 
pelled from  the  Church.15  Finley  states  that  "I  suffered 
no  opportunity  to  pass  that  I  did  not  improve  in  por- 
traying the  physical,  social,  and  moral  evils  resulting 
from  intemperance.  .  .  .  Frequently  I  would  pledge 
whole  congregations,  standing  upon  their  feet,  to  the 
temperance  cause."16 

Among  the  frontier  preachers  none  were  more  famous 
for  opposition  to  intemperance  than  James  Axley.  Ax- 
ley  and  Peter  Cartwright  were  close  friends,  they  hav- 
ing 'been  admitted  into  the  Western  Conference  the  same 
year,  and  were  alike  in  their  fearless  denunciation  of 
whatever  they  believed  to  be  wrong.  At  one  time  he 
was  located  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  a  country  known  for 
its  production  of  peach  brandy  and  for  the  free  use  of 
it.  In  opposition  to  this  practice  he  preached  what 
became  known  as  Axley's  temperance  isermon,  which 
was  famous  in  all  that  region  for  a  third  of  a  century. 
A  passage  from  this  sermon  will  serve  to  illustrate  a 
type  of  frontier  preaching,  as  well  as  the  strong  oppo- 
sition of  the  Methodist  Church  toward  intemperance: 

Text:  "Alexander  the  coppersmith  did  me  much  evil;  the  Lord 
reward  him  according  to  his  works."    (2  Tim.  iv.  14.) 

Paul  was  a  traveling  preacher,  and  a  bishop,  or  a  presiding 
elder  at  least;  for  he  traveled  extensively,  and  had  much  to  do, 
not  only  in  regulating  the  societies,  but  also  in  sending  the  preach- 
ers here,  there,  and  yonder.  He  was  zealous,  laborious,  would 
not  build  on  another  man's  foundation,  but  formed  new  circuits, 


'Cartwright,  "Autobiography,"  pages  184-186. 
'Finley,  "Autobiography,"  page  250. 
5 


06 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


"where  Christ  was  not  named,"  so  that  from  Jerusalem,  and  round 
unto  Illyricum,  he  had  fully  preached  the  gospel  of  Christ.  One 
new  place  that  he  visited  was  very  wicked.  .  .  .  Sabbath- 
breaking,  dancing,  drinking,  quarreling,  fighting,  swearing,  etc., 
abounded;  but  the  word  of  the  Lord  took  effect;  there  was  a 
powerful  stir  among  the  people,  and  many  precious  souls  were 
converted.  Among  the  subjects  of  that  work  there  was  a  certain 
noted  character,  Alexander  by  name  and  a  still-maker  by  trade; 
also  Hymenaeus,  who  was  his  partner  in  the  business.  Paul 
formed  a  new  society,  and  appointed  Brother  Alexander  class 
leader.  There  was  a  great  change  in  the  place;  the  people  left 
off  their  drinking,  swearing,  fighting,  horse-racing,  dancing,  and 
all  their  wicked  practices.  The  stills  were  worked  up  into  bells 
and  stew-kettles,  and  thus  applied  to  useful  purposes.  The  settle- 
ment was  orderly,  the  meetings  were  prosperous,  and  things 
went  well  among  them  for  some  time.  But  one  year  they  had  a 
pleasant  spring;  there  was  no  late  frost,  and  the  peach  crop  hit 
exactly.  I  do  suppose,  my  brethren,  that  such  a  crop  of  peaches 
was  never  known  before.  The  old  folks  ate  all  they  could  eat; 
the  children  ate  all  they  could  eat;  the  pigs  ate  all  they  could 
eat;  the  sisters  preserved  all  they  could  preserve;  and  still  the 
limbs  of  the  trees  were  bending  and  breaking.  One  Sunday 
when  the  brethren  met  for  worship  they  gathered  around  outside 
the  meetinghouse,  and  got  to  talking  about  their  worldly  business 
— as  you  know  people  sometimes  do,  and  it  is  a  mighty  bad 
practice — and  one  said  to  another,  "Brother,  how  is  the  peach 
crop  with  you  this  year?"  "Oh,"  said  he,  "you  never  saw  the 
like;  they  are  rotting  on  the  ground  under  the  trees;  I  don't 
know  what  to  do  with  them."  "How  would  it  do,"  said  one,  "to 
still  them?  The  peaches  will  go  to  waste,  but  the  brandy  will 
keep;  and  it  is  very  good  in  certain  cases,  if  not  used  to  excess." 
"I  should  like  to  know,"  said  a  cute  brother,  "how  you  could  make 
brandy  without  stills?"  "That's  nothing,"  replied  another,  "for 
our  class  leader,  Brother  Alexander,  is  as  good  a  still-maker  as 
need  be,  and  Brother  Hymenaeus  is  another,  and,  rather  than  see 
the  fruit  wasted,  no  doubt  they  will  make  us  a  few."  The  next 
thing  heard  on  the  subject  was  a  hammering  in  the  class  leader's 
shop;  and  soon  the  stills  in  every  brother's  orchard  were  smok- 
ing and  the  liquid  poison  streaming.  When  one  called  on  another, 
the  bottle  was  brought  out,  with  the  remark,  "I  want  you  to  taste 
my  new  brandy;  I  think  it  is  pretty  good."  The  guest  after  tast- 
ing once  was  urged  to  repeat,  when,  smacking  his  lips,  he  would 
reply:  "Well,  it's  tolerable;  but  I  wish  you  would  come  over  and 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  67 

taste  mine;  I  think  mine  is  a  little  better."  So  they  tasted  and 
tasted  till  many  of  them  got  about  half  drunk,  and  I  don't  know 
but  three-quarters.  Then  the  very  devil  was  raised  among  them; 
the  society  was  all  in  an  uproar,  and  Paul  was  sent  for  to  come 
and  settle  the  difficulty.  At  first  it  was  difficult  to  find  sober, 
disinterested  ones  enough  to  try  the  guilty;  but  finally  he  got 
his  committee  formed;  and  the  first  one  he  brought  to  account 
was  Alexander,  who  pleaded  not  guilty.  He  declared  he  had  not 
tasted,  bought,  sold,  or  distilled  a  drop  of  brandy.  "But,"  said 
Paul,  "you  made  the  stills,  otherwise  there  would  have  been  no 
liquor  made;  and  if  no  liquor,  no  one  would  have  been  intoxi- 
cated." So  they  expelled  him  first,  then  Hymenaeus  next,  and 
went  on  for  compliment,  till  the  society  was  relieved  of  all  still- 
makers,  distillers,  dramsellers,  and  dram-drinkers,  and  peace  was 
once  more  restored.  Paul  says:  "Holding  faith,  and  a  good  con- 
science; which  some  having  put  away  concerning  faith  have  made 
shipwreck:  of  whom  is  Hymenaeus  and  Alexander;  whom  I  have 
delivered  unto  Satan,  that  they  may  learn  not  to  blaspheme."17 

Frontier  Methodism  had  a  very  large  social  influence. 
Once  a  week  the  class  leaders  called  their  classes  to- 
gether, and  there  the  New  Englander  and  the  South- 
erner, "the  Yorker"  and  the  Eastern  Shore  man,  the 
Teuton  and  the  Celt  mingled  on  a  platform  of  exact 
equality.  The  class  leader  was  a  neighbor  and  friend, 
and  freely  and  frankly  they  discussed  their  religious 
convictions,  their  fears  and  hopes  together.  They  spoke 
and  sang  and  prayed,  and  thus  sectional  prejudices 
passed  and  there  was  born  a  distinct  Western  spirit  and 
feeling.  These  class  meetings  were  the  smallest  of  the 
Methodist  gatherings.  Then  there  were  the  preaching 
services  when  the  circuit  preacher  reached  the  neighbor- 
hood and  greater  numbers  gathered  together;  and  the 
quarterly  meetings,  when  sometimes  as  many  as  two 
thousand  people  gathered  to  spend  two  days  in  religious 
and  social  intercourse.  Still  more  extensive  was  the 
mingling,  when  in  the  autumn  the  camp  meetings  began. 
Nearly  every  circuit  planned  such  a  gathering,  when 


17Finley,  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  pages  237,  238. 


08  Tlw  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

people  from  far  and  near  came,  lived  in  booths  and 
tents,  and  spent  their  time  in  delightful  mingling  to- 
gether. Methodism  on  the  frontier  proved  a  wonderful 
"social  chemistry."  Indeed,  no  other  influence  on  the 
frontier  had  larger  social  possibilities.18 

Another  aspect  of  the  social  influence  of  frontier 
Methodism  deserves  mention.  The  preacher  lived  in  the 
homes  of  the  people.  He  passed  the  night  in  the  home 
where  he  preached,  or  in  the  neighborhood.  Entirely 
aside  from  the  religious  influences  which  emanated  from 
such  visits  were  his  example  as  a  studious  man  and  a 
gentleman.  The  casual  conversations  carried  on  at  the 
table  wTith  the  elder  members  of  the  household ;  the  read- 
ing and  praying  about  the  open  fireplace  just  before 
retiring  and  just  after  rising;  the  books  he  brought  into 
the  log  cabins — all  these  were  fruitful  sources  of  in- 
fluencing especially  the  younger  members  of  the  house- 
hold. 

The  early  Methodist  circuit  riders  were  not  only 
preachers,  but  they  were  likewise  book  agents.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1800  passed  this  rule:  "It  shall  be 
the  duty  of  every  presiding  elder,  where  no  book  stew- 
ard is  appointed,  to  see  that  his  district  be  fully  sup- 
plied with  books.  He  is  to  order  such  books  as  are 
wanted,  and  to  give  directions  to  whose  care  the  same 
are  to  be  sent;  and  he  is  to  take  the  oversight  of  all 
our  books  sent  into  his  district,  and  to  account  to  the 
superintendent  for  the  same."  It  stated  further:  "It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  every  preacher  who  has  the  charge 
of  a  circuit  to  see  that  his  circuit  be  duly  supplied  with 
books,  and  to  take  charge  of  all  the  books  which  are 
sent  to  him,  from  time  to  time,  or  which  may  be  in  his 


18Rev.  T.  M.  Eddy,  "Influence  of  Methodism  upon  the  Civili- 
zation and  Education  of  the  West,"  Methodist  Review,  April, 
1857,  pages  280-296. 


The  Circuit  Rider  in  Frontier  Society.  69 

circuit;  and  he  is  to  account  with  the  presiding  elder 
for  the  same."19  These  books,  of  course,  were  mainly 
publications  of  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  but  they 
were  books  on  a  variety  of  subjects,  such  as  biography, 
history,  travel,  philosophy,  and  ethics,  as  well  as  the 
Methodist  "stand-bys,"  the  works  of  Wesley,  Fletcher, 
Clarke,  Bangs,  and  Lee.  At  this  early  date  there  were 
no  Methodist  journals.  The  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate began  publication  in  1834,  while  the  Methodist  Mag- 
azine did  not  begin  operation  until  1818. 

There  were  few  cabins  on  the  frontier  where  reading 
matter  was  abundant.  The  cares  of  pioneer  life  and  its 
hardships  had  largely  destroyed  the  opportunity  for 
cultural  pursuits  and  there  was  very  little  demand  for 
books.  But  the  Methodist  preachers  resolutely  carried 
books  to  the  people  and  in  most  cases  actually  crowded 
them  upon  the  settler.  Many  a  frontier  cabin  would 
have  been  without  a  single  book  if  some  circuit  rider 
had  not  insisted  that  books  be  purchased.  This  was  a  part 
of  the  preacher's  duty,  and  most  of  the  preachers  were 
faithful  in  its  performance.  Among  old  collections  of 
books,  volumes  may  still  be  found  bearing  upon  the 

flyleaf  "Bought  of  Rev.   ,  May   ,  18  , 

Price  f  ."    The  books  were  read  in  the  household, 

then  were  loaned  to  the  neighbors  until  they  made  the 
circuit  of  the  settlement. 

The  Western  preachers  were  deeply  interested  in  edu- 
cation, even  though  they  themselves  were  generally  un- 
schooled men.  As  a  testimony  to  this  interest  was 
Bethel  Academy,  erected  in  Jessamine  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  the  latter  years  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
It  was  the  second  institution  of  learning  founded  by 
Methodists  in  the  United  States.  The  Academy,  built 
entirely  by  subscriptions  obtained  from  the  Western 


Emory,  "History  of  the  Discipline,"  pages  258,  259. 


70  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


circuits,  originated  with  Bishop  Asbury  and  Francis 
Poythress  and  certain  leading  laymen  of  the  region. 
The  building  erected  was  eighty  by  forty,  and  three 
stories  high.  It  was  designed  to  serve  as  a  dormitory 
as  well  as  for  recitations  and  chapel.  The  Kentucky 
legislature  thought  well  enough  of  the  project  to  grant 
the  institution  six  thousand  acres  of  land.  The  people 
were  generous  to  the  limit  of  their  ability,  and  for  a 
time  the  school  attracted  numbers  of  students;  but  it 
proved  poorly  located,  and  there  were  few  to  patronize 
the  school.  The  frontier  was  extremely  poor,  and  finally 
it  was  deemed  best  to  abandon  it.  It  was  not  long, 
however,  until  Bethel  Academy  was  followed  by  numer- 
ous successors,  and  in  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth 
century  many  colleges  and  academies  sprang  up,  founded 
by  Methodist  Conferences,  in  the  States  which  once  com- 
posed the  Western  Conference.20 

Another  achievement  of  Methodism  on  the  frontier 
was  that  it  trained  laymen  in  the  art  of  public  speaking 
and  public  leadership  as  perhaps  nothing  else  was  able 
to  do.  The  local  preachers  and  class  leaders  were  cho- 
sen from  among  the  more  talented  and  better  prepared 
of  the  members  of  the  Church,  and  thus  they  received 
training  for  general  political  and  social  leadership.  It 
was  no  mere  accident  that  a  local  preacher,  Edward  Tiffin, 
became  the  first  governor  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  it 
is  not  strange  that  Peter  Cartwright  developed  political 
ambitions. 


'Finley,  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  pages  42,  43. 


PART  II. 
THE  JOURNAL. 


JZ>tC*  fay-*.,...  2 


jf^^f  c^6^/& 


tf&ax/lt^  /ff<Z%+  CckZUs  'Tn^n  Cct?}?~ 

</&*i^cS//fo>u* r?t ,  *^6a<rtJ-CL^  &6L*isZp.  <_*/Z<r3-cj  Cfcay^ct ,  ^crtvui , 

Se/yUisfi  <t*t&£  z&A^i&l  cf*  u>  (fyCc^ru!*-*.  .^o^AZ*  farm  -<d«n~&<- 


<>J) 

22^zv2£*  #Zr~  ^~~w-&,  ✓^r^  <^<^c6*r  /,  u^;z  „, 

l^sLu*  tfcM,^*^ fit**  c*   6»»u^Jti6~%       rfa^c^        foiaf  ft^t*^ 

thirty,  fa^f<„  ^UU?^-         *£^u  &s<^ 

<J  tit 

,/  //  <rt> 

 _.  -JL*f  _____  J  3  " 

C  C-6 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE,  HELD 
AT  BETHEL  ACADEMY,  KENTUCKY, 
OCTOBER  6,  1800.1 

Members  present,  Francis  Asbury,  Richard  Wh  at  coat, 
William  McKendree,  William  Burk,  John  Sale,  Heze- 
kiah  Harriman,  Benjamin  Lakin;  readmitted,  Lewis 
Hunt,  Thomas  Allin,  Jeremiah  Lawson. 

Who  are  admitted  on  trial?  William  Marsh,  Benja- 
min Young. 

What  local  preachers  are  elected  to  the  office  of  dea- 
cons? Ansr.  Richard  Tilton,  Edward  Talbot,  William 
Thompson,  Isaac  Favey,  Rubin  Hunt,  Elisha  Bowman, 
Jacob  James,  A.  Blackman,  Jonathan  Kid  well,  Benja- 
min Northcot,  Joshu  West,  James  Garner,  Jesse  Griffith, 
Philip  Taylor. 

Who  have  located  this  year?  Ansr.  Thomas  Allin. 

Benjamin  Lakin,  Jeremiah  Lawson,  Lewis  Hunt,  and 
Thomas  Allin,  Ordained  to  the  Office  of  Deacons. 

The  Preachers'  deficiencies  for  Six  Months  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

£    S    D  £    S  D 

William  Burk  2    17    6     Hezekiah  Harriman ..  7    19  0 

John  Sale   6    16    6     Lewis  Hunt   0    18  2 

Jeremiah  Lawson         5    15    7     Benjamin  Young  3     5  6 

Thomas  Allin  11     20  ___ 

—   —  -  12     2  8 

£26    11    7  26    11  7 

£38    14  3 

Conference  Adjourned,  to  meet  again  at  Ebenezer, 
State  of  Tennessee,  October  1,  1801.  Test. 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  F.  Asbury. 

Note  1. — Bishop  Asbury  crossed  over  the  mountains  from  Vir- 
ginia to  attend  this  session  of  the  Western  Conference.  He  left 
his  horse  and  carriage  east  of  the  mountains  and  borrowed  a 


74 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


horse  to  ride  to  Kentucky.  On  September  27  he  speaks  of  climb- 
ing the  steeps  of  Clinch  and  sleeping  that  night  on  the  Cumber- 
land. On  October  2  they  crossed  the  Kentucky  River,  and  on 
October  3  reached  Bethel,  where  the  Conference  was  to  be  held. 
The  minutes  are  dated  the  6th,  but  Asbury  speaks  of  Bishop 
Whatcoat  and  William  McKendree  preaching  at  Bethel  on  the  3d. 
Of  Bethel  Academy  he  has  the  following  to  say:  "Here  is  Bethel 
— Cokesbury  in  miniature,  eighty  by  thirty  feet,  three  stories, 
with  a  high  roof,  and  finished  below.  Now  we  want  a  fund  and 
an  income  of  300  per  year  to  carry  it  on — without  which  it  will 
be  useless.  But  it  is  too  distant  from  public  places,  its  being 
surrounded  by  the  river  Kentucky  in  part,  we  now  find  to  be  no 
benefit;  thus  all  our  excellencies  are  turned  to  defects.  Perhaps 
Brother  Poythress  and  myself  were  as  much  overseen  with  this 
place  as  Dr.  Coke  was  with  the  seat  of  Cokesbury.  But  all  is 
right  that  works  right,  and  all  is  wrong  that  works  wrong,  and 
we  must  be  blamed  by  men  of  slender  sense  for  consequences 
impossible  to  foresee — for  other  people's  misconduct.  Sabbath 
day,  Monday,  and  Tuesday  we  were  shut  up  in  Bethel  with  the 
traveling  and  local  ministry  and  the  trustees  that  could  be  called 
together.  We  ordained  fourteen  or  fifteen  local  and  traveling 
deacons.  It  was  thought  expedient  to  carry  the  first  design  of 
education  into  execution,  and  that  we  should  employ  a  man  of 
sterling  qualifications,  to  be  chosen  by  and  under  the  direction 
of  a  select  number  of  trustees,  and  others  who  should  obligate 
themselves  to  see  him  paid,  and  take  the  profits,  if  any,  arising 
from  the  establishment.  Dr.  Jennings  was  thought  of,  talked  of, 
and  written  to."    ( Asbury 's  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  page  394.) 

The  appointments  to  the  Western  circuits  for  this  year,  as 
given  in  the  General  Minutes,  are  as  follows: 

Kentucky  District.    William  McKendree,  P.  Elder. 

Sciota  and  Miami,  Henry  Smith. 
Limestone,  Benjamin  Lakin. 

Hinkstone  and  Lexington,  William  Burke,  Thomas  Wilkerson, 

Lewis  Hunt. 
Danville,  Hezekiah  Harriman. 

Salt  River  and  Shelby,  John  Sale,  William  Marsh. 
Cumberland,  John  Page,  Benj.  Young. 
Green,  Samuel  Douthet,  Ezekiel  Burdine. 
Holston  and  Russell,  James  Hunter. 
New-River,  John  Watson. 

(Minutes  of  Conferences,  Vol.  I.,  1773-1828,  page  99.) 


II. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE,  HELD 
AT  EBENEZER,  STATE  OF  TENNESSEE, 
OCTOBER  1,  1801* 


Those  marked  thus  *  were  not  present. 

John  A.  Granade  came  recommended-  for  admition  on 
Trial.  It  is  the  Judgement  of  the  Conference,  that  he 
has  a  certain  hardness  and  stubbornness  in  his  temper, 
which  has  produced,  some  improper  Conclusions;  but 
as  he  has  given  some  hopeful  assureanee,  that  in  future, 
he  will  be  more  teachable,  and  as  his  piety,  and  zeale, 
is  not  doubted,  the  Conference,  is  of  opinion  that  he 
may  be  admitted,  after  receiving  a  Special  Council  from 
the  Bishop. 

Whereas  Francis  Poythress,  appears  to  be  incapable 
of  taking  a  Station,  it  is  agreed  too  by  the  Conference, 
that  his  name  shall  stand  on  the  Minutes  among  the 
Elders;  and  that  he  shall  have  a  porpotionable  clame 
on  the  Conference,  for  his  support. 

William  McKendree,  Thomas  Wilkerson,  John  Page, 


Members  of  the  Conference. 


Francis  Asbury,  Bishop, 
William  McKendree, 
James  Douthit, 
Thomas  Wilkerson, 
John  Watson, 
James  Hunter, 
Samuel  Douthit, 
John  Page, 
Ezekiel  Burdine, 


Nicholas  Snethen, 
Lewis  Garrett, 
William  Burk,* 
John  Sale,* 
Hezekiah  Harriman,* 
Benjamin  Lakin,* 
Henry  Smith,* 
Benjamin  Young,* 
Lewis  Hunt,* 
Tobias  Gibson.* 


70 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


and  John  Watson  are  appointed  a  committee,  to  adjust 
the  preachers'  finances. 

Quest:  What  Local  preachers  are  ordained  to  the 
office  of  Deacons?  Ansr.  James  Landrum,  Jesse 
Thomas,  and  William  Duzan. 

It  is  the  desire  of  this  Conference,  that  the  Presiding 
Elders,  take  it  upon  themselves  to  insist  on  the  preach- 
ers in  the  Western  Districts,  to  attend  the  next  Yearly 
Conference. 

Paid  to  the  Preachers'  Fund  the  following  Sums: 


William  McKendree,  $  2  00 

Thos.  Wilkerson,  for  6 

months,    1  00 

James  Hunter,   2  00 

Samuel  Douthit,   2  00 

John  Page,   2  00 

Ezekiel  Burdine,   2  67 

John  Watson,   2  00 

Lewis    Garrett,    for  6 

months,    1  00 


William  Burk,*  $  2  00 

John  Sale,*    2  00 

Benjamin  Lakin,*   2  00 

Henry  Smith,*   2  00 

Lewis  Hunt,*   2  00 


$10  00 
$14  67 


$24  67 


$14  67 

Those  marked  *  failed  to  send  thire  money  to  the  fund,  but 
being  Claiments  on  the  Charter  fund,  the  Committee  Judge  it 
proper  to  deduct  their  part. 


Report  of  the  Committee  of  Claimes. 


Draft  on  the  Charter  Fund  for  1799  

Claiments  for  this  year: 

William  Burk,   $  53  00 

John  Page,    19  00 

Lewis  Hunt,    39  67 

John  Watson,    10  00 


$121  67 


Remds. 


34 
11 

26 
06 

77 
3 


The  Journal  for  1801. 


77 


Draft  on  the  Charter  Fund  for  1800. .  .$80  00 
Claiments  for  this  year: 

William  Burk,   $111  33   

Lewis  Hunt   55  00   

Henry  Smith,    49  90   

John  Sale,    30  67   


$246  90 


20 


Thomas  Wilkerson,  

John  Watson,    3 

Samuel  Douthit   8 

John  Page,    22 

Ezekiel  Burdine   8 

William  Burk,    35 

John  Sale,    47 

Benjamin  Lakin,    65 

Henry  Smith,   17 

William  Marsh   21  00 

Lewis  Hunt,    69  00 


$404  33 
114  98 


o 


Remainder 


Draft  on  the  Charter  Fund  for  1801  $100 

Claiments  for  this  year,  drawn 
for  18  months: 
William  McKendree,  $  88 


$  34  00 
18  00 
16  00 
11  00 


$  79  00 
1  00 

$  80  00 


88 
20 
98 
08 
72 
08 
10 
22 
90 
42 
46 
94 


$114  98 


$289  35     Remaining  deficiency. 


Drafts  on  the  Charter  Fund. 
For  1799,  $  80  00 

1800   80  00 

1801   110  00 

Preachers  fund,   24  67 


$294  67 


Disbursements. 

1799  To  sundry  Claim- 

ents,  $  77  00 

1800  To     Do        Do       79  00 

1801  To  Do  Do  114  98 
To  Francis  Asbury,  10  00 
To   Francis  Poy- 

thress,   13  69 


$294  67 


78 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Where  shall  the  next  Conference  be  held?  Ansr. 
Cumberland.  The  arguments  in  favor  of  Cumberland, 
and  which  carried  the  Conference,  these  were  advanced 
by  John  Page,  and  are  as  follows,  1st.  The  union,  and 
friendly  State  of  affairs,  between  the  Methodist  and 
Prisbeterians,  21y.  There  never  was  A  Conference  held 
there.  Conference  was  voted  to  Cumberland,  by  a 
majority  of  two  thirds.  It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Con- 
ference, that  there  should  be  three  perminent  places 
for  holding  Conference,  in  the  western  destrier,  (viz) 
Bethel  in  Kentucky,  Bethel  in  Cumberland,  and  Ebene- 
zer  on  Xolechucky. 

William  Burk,  Secretary.  F.  Asbury. 

Note  2. — The  Ebenezer  referred  to  in  the  Minutes  as  the  seat 
of  the  Conference  of  1801  was  in  East  Tennessee,  on  the  Nolli- 
chucky  River,  in  Greene  County.    (Hoss,  "Life  of  McKendree."). 

Bishop  Asbury  came  to  the  Conference  complaining  "My 
bowels,  and  my  poor  horse's  back  are  in  bad  order."  John  Wat- 
son, one  of  the  Western  preachers,  was  with  him  when  he  crossed 
the  Holston  and  Watauga  on  September  28. 

Of  the  Conference  the  bishop  says:  "Our  brethren  in  Kentucky 
did  not  attend:  they  pleaded  the  greatness  of  the  work  of  God. 
Twelve  of  us  sat  in  conference  three  days;  and  we  had  not  an 
unpleasant  countenance,  nor  did  we  hear  an  angry  word.  .  .  . 
N.  Snethen  gave  us  two  sermons.  We  ordained  on  Friday,  Satur- 
day, and  Sabbath  day,  and  upon  each  day  I  improved  a  little  on 
the  duties  of  ministers.  On  the  Lord's  day  we  assembled  in  the 
woods,  and  made  a  large  congregation.  ...  On  Friday  and 
Saturday  evenings,  and  on  Sabbath  morning  there  was  the  noise 
of  praise  and  shouting  in  the  meetinghouse:  it  is  thought  there 
are  twenty-five  souls  who  have  found  the  Lord;  they  are  chiefly 
the  children  of  Methodists — the  children  of  faith  and  of  many 
prayers."    (Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  38.) 

The  appointments  for  the  Western  Conference  for  this  year 
(1801)  are  given  in  the  General  Minutes  as  follows: 

Kentucky  District.    William  McKendree,  P.  Elder. 
Natchez,  Tobias  Gibson. 

Scioto  and  Miami,  Benjamin  Young,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 


The  Journal  of  1801. 


Limestone,  Henry  Smith,  Lewis  Hunt. 
Hinkstone,  Benjamin  Lakin. 
Lexington,  Wm.  Burke,  Lewis  Garrett. 
Danville,  John  Sale,  William  Marsh. 
Salt  River,  Hezekiah  Harriman. 
Shelby,  Gabriel  Woodfill. 
Cumberland,  John  Page,  Thos.  Wilkerson. 

Holston  Conference.   John  Watson,  P.  Elder 

Green,  Moses  Floyd,  John  A.  Grenade. 
Holston,  Samuel  Douthet. 

Russell,  James  Hunter,  six  months,  L.  Blackman. 
New-River,  Ezekiel  Burdine,  Louther  Taylor. 
(Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  page  104.) 


III. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
HELD  AT  BETHEL  CHAPEL,  CUMBERLAND, 
OCTOBER  1,  1802* 

Members  of  the  Conference. 


Francis  Asbury,  Bishop. 
Nicholas  Snethen,* 

Preachers'  Fund. 


William  McKendree,   $  2 

John  Watson,   2 

William  Burk,    2 

Thomas  Wilkerson,    2 

Henry  Smith,   2 

John  Sale,    2 

John  Page,    2 

Lewis  Garrett,    2 

John  A.  Granade,*  


$16 


Hezekiah  Harriman,  $  2 

Tobias  Gibson,  .  .dispenced  with 


Samuel  Douthit,    2 

Ezekiel  Burdine,*    2 

Benjamin  Lakin,    2 

Benjamin  Young,*  

Moses  Floyed,   2 

Louther  Taylor,*  for  six 

months    50 

Lawner  Blackman,*  Do..  50 


$11  00 

Ralph  Lotspiech,*  

16  00 


$27  00 

Those  marked  thus  *  were  not  present. 

Who  are  received  on  trial?  Ansr.  Jacob  Young,  Wil- 
liam Crutchfield,  Kalph  Lotspiech,  Jesse  Walker,* 
James  Gwin,*  Leven  Edney.* 

Those  marked  thus  *  were  men  with  families,  who,  after  a 
few  weeks,  engage  their  service  for  this  year,  professing,  at  the 
same  time,  an  intention  to  continue  their  service,  provided  circum- 
stances will  permit. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  William  McKen- 
dree, William  Burk,  John  Page,  and  John  Watson,  A 
Committe  of  Claimes. 

Who  are  ordained  Deacons  at  this  Conference?  Ansr. 
Jesse  Walker,  Samuel  Mason,  Manoah  Lasley,  Moses 


The  Journal  far  1802. 


81 


Cloyed,  Elliot  Jones,  Benjamin  Whitson,  John  Jarratt, 
Henry  Jones. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  take  into  Consideration 
the  critical,  deranged  state  of  unaccountability  which 
Francis  Poythress  at  present  is  in,  and  judge  it  best, 
for  the  safety  of  the  Connection,  that  his  name  shall  be 
left  off  of  the  General  Minutes.  But  at  the  same  time 
are  tenderly  concerned  for  his  support  and  welfare, — 
and  therefore  Kesolve,  that  his  name  shall  stand  on 
our  Journal;  and  that  he  shall  have  a  proportionable 
Claim  on  the  Western  Conference  for  his  support;  and 
further  it  is  our  opinion,  that  his  name  should  be  per- 
petuated on  the  Journals  of  this  Conference,  for  the 
same  purpose. 

It  is  voted  that  a  Committe  shall  be  appointed  to 
waite  on  the  next  Assembly,  at  Frankfort,  in  Kentucky, 
to  attend  to  the  business  of  Bethel  Academy,  in  sd 
State,  and  that  they  are  directed  to  act  upon  their  own 
judgement;  and  do  the  best  they  can.  William  McKen- 
dree,  William  Burk,  Lewis  Garrett,  and  Samuel  Douthit 
appointed,  to  be  the  Committe. 

On  motion  Kesolved,  that  John  Page,  Thomas  Wilker- 
son,  and  Green  Hill,  shall  form  a  Committe,  to  petition 
the  next  General  Assembly,  of  Tennessee;  to  grant 
liberty  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Meeting  House, 
in  Nashville,  to  sell  the  said  house,  and  appropriate 
the  money  to  the  use  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine  the  deficiencies 
of  the  preachers: 

Hezekiah  Harriman,  .  ..$    4  04     Benjamin  Lakin,  $  51  96 

William  Burk   81  75     Tobias  Gibson,   32  00 

Francis  Poythress,   80  00   

  $  83  96 

$165  79  165  79 


$249  75 

6 


82 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  m  the  West. 


Report  of  the  Committe  of  Claims. 

Money  on  hand,  from  the  Charter  Fund,  $  90  00 

Paid  by  the  preachers  to  their  fund,   27  00 


Distrebuted  as  Follows: 

To  Francis  Asbury,  $20  00 

Nicholas  Snethen,  13  00 

William  Burk,    31  00 

Francis  Poythress,    20  00 


$84  00 


$117  00 

Benjamin  Lakin,  $  19  00 

Tobias  Gibson,    12  00 

Hezekiah  Harriman,  ...  1  00 
To  the  Mitionary,   1  00 


$  33  00 
84  00 


$117  00 


It  appears  to  this  Committe,  that  William  McKen- 
dree  has,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  paid  Francis 
Poythress's  acct,  $13.69,  and  beged,  and  applied,  $11 
more,  to  the  same  purpose. 

By  Collection  among  the  Travilling  preachers,  sitting  in 

Conference   $35  00 

To  Tobias  Gibson,  $15  00 

Moses  Floyd,  Mitionary,  20  00 


$35  00 

Quest.  When  and  where  shall  our  next  Conference  be 
held?  Ansr.  At  Mount  Gerizim,  in  Kentucky,  October 
2nd,  1803. 

William  Burk,  Secretary.  Francis  Asbury. 

Note  3. — Bishop  Asbury  attended  the  session  of  the  Western 
Conference  in  1802,  coming  directly  from  Virginia.  He  came  into 
Tennessee  on  September  13,  and  on  the  16th  attended  a  camp 
meeting  which  continued  four  days.  He  states  that  there  were 
about  1,500  souls  present.  Here,  he  continues,  "the  heat,  the 
restless  nights,  the  water,  or,  it  may  be,  all  these  combined 
made  me  sick  indeed."  On  Sunday,  the  19th,  he  is  at  Ebenezer, 
where  the  house  was  unable  to  hold  the  people  and  so  he 
preaches  from  a  stand  in  the  woods.    The  next  day  he  is  sick 


The  Journal  for  1802. 


83 


and  unwell.  On  the  22d  we  find  him  on  the  banks  of  the  French 
Broad  and  preaching  as  he  goes.  On  October  2  he  finally  reached 
the  seat  of  the  Conference,  which  he  found  in  session.  The 
Bishop,  however,  was  too  sick  to  preach,  so  two  Presbyterian 
ministers  supply  the  lack,  "which  they  did  with  great  fervency 
and  fidelity."  William  McKendree  was  also  called  upon  to  assist 
in  examining  and  stationing  the  preachers,  though  the  Bishop 
was  able  to  ordain.    (Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  78-81.) 

The  appointments  for  the  Western  Conference,  1802,  were  as 
follows: 

Holston  District.   John  Watson,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Thomas  Milligan,  John  A.  Grenade. 

Nollichuckie,  Henry  Smith. 

French  Broad,  Louther  Taylor. 

Powell's  Valley,  Benjamin  Young. 

Clinch,  Moses  Black. 

New  River,  Learner  Blackman. 

Kentucky  District.    William  McKendree,  p.  Elder. 

Limestone,  William  Burke. 

Miami,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 

Scioto,  John  Sale,  Stephen  Timmons. 

Hinkstone,  Hezekiah  Harriman. 

Lexington,  Samuel  Douthet. 

Danville,  Lewis  Garrett,  William  Crutchfield. 

Salt  River  and  Shelby,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Ralph  Lotspeich. 

Cumberland  District.   John  Page,  p.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Thomas  Wilkerson,  Levin  Edney. 
Red  River,  Jesse  Walker. 
Barren,  James  Gwinn,  Jacob  Young. 
Natchez,  Moses  Floyd,  Tobias  Gibson. 


IV. 

JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
HELD  AT  MOUNT  GERRIZIM,  STATE  OF  KEN- 
TUCKY, OCTOBER  2,  1803.4- 

Members  of  the  Conference. 

Francis  Asbury,  Bishop.     John  Sale, 
William  McKendree,  Hezekiah  Harriman, 

John  Watson,  Samuel  Douthit, 

William  Burk,  Louther  Taylor, 

Lewis  Garrett,  Lawner  Blackman, 

Thomas  Wilkerson,  Thomas  Milligan,* 

Moses  Floyed,*  Moses  Black,* 

Benjamin  Young,  Elisha  Bowman, 

John  A.  Granade, 
Those  marked  thus  *  were  not  present. 

On  motion  resolved  that  William  McKendree,  John 
Watson,  Thomas  Wilkerson,  Lewis  Garrett,  and  John 
Sale  be  appointed  a  Committee  of  Claims. 

Quest.  1.  Who  are  admitted  on  Trial?  Ansr.  1.  Adjet 
McGuire,  who  travelled  the  Limestone  Circuit  nearly 
12  months  past,  was  well  received,  and  useful;  and 
came  recommended  according  to  rule. 

2.  William  Pattison,  who  has  travilled  3  months  on 
the  Miami  Circuit.  A  man  of  but  little  education  and 
small  abilities,  but  is  said  to  be  pious,  zealous,  and 
useful,  and  came  well  recommended. 

3.  Anthony  Houston,  a  man  of  tolerable  gifts,  has 
been  about  13  months  in  the  profession  of  religion, 
and  travilled  3  months  in  Salt-river  and  Shelby  Cir- 
cuits, was  well  received  and  properly  recommended. 

4.  Joseph  Oglesby,  who  has  been  in  profession  of  re- 
ligion about  two  years,  and  has  preached  as  a  local 
preacher,  about  one  year.  A  man  of  tolerable  gifts, 
and  came  well  recommended. 


The  Journal  for  1803'. 


85 


5.  Abraham  Amos,  who  has  been  in  profession  of 
religion  two  and  a  half  years,  of  small  gifts,  and  elit- 
erate;  but  was  useful  and  much  esteemed  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood. He  was  admitted,  as  a  local  Speaker,  at 
the  last  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Lexington  Circuit,  but 
at  that  time  was  not  proposed  to  them  as  having  any 
intention  to  travil,  after  which  he  attended  several 
Quarterly  Meetings,  with  the  Elder,  and  was  thought 
to  be  useful,  the  Conference  admitted  him  into  the 
Travilling  Connection  upon  the  Judgment  of  some  of 
the  Travilling  preachers,  who  think  he  would  have  been 
recommended,  if  an  application  had  been  made. 

6.  John  McClure,  has  been  in  the  profession  of  re- 
ligion about  two  years,  and  is  judged  to  be  a  pious 
man,  he  has  travilled  about  nine  months  in  the  Cum- 
berland District.  But  brought  no  recommendation, 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting.  It  was  thought  to  be  the 
fault  of  the  Presiding  Elder,  and  therefore  he  was 
received  upon  the  persuation,  that  he  could  have  ob- 
tained a  recommendation,  if  application  had  been  made. 

7.  Fletcher  Sulivan,  who  came  under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances, of  John  McClure,  and  is  received  upon 
the  same  principles. 

8.  John  Johnson,  from  the  Holston  Destrict,  not 
present,  but  was  recommended  and  received. 

Quest.  2nd.  Who  remain  on  Trial?  Ansr.  1st.  Jacob 
Young,  who  is  spoken  well  of  as  a  man  of  piety,  and 
improvible  gifts.  2nd.  William  Crutchfield,  is  recom- 
mended as  a  pious  and  gifted  man.  3rd.  Kalph  Lot- 
spiech,  a  man  some  what  peculiar,  but  is  thought  to 
improve,  and  amend.  4th.  Jesse  Walker,  not  present, 
but  is  spoken  well  of  as  a  preacher,  and  Christian. 
5.  Leaven  Edney,  not  present,  but  is  said  to  possess 
grace  and  gifts,  and  has  been  useful. 

Quest.  3rd.  Who  are  received  into  full  Connection? 
Ansr.  1.  Elisha  Bowman,  who  is  well  reported  of,  as 


86 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


baveing  been  indefatagable  iu  bis  labours  and  useful. 
He  lias  beeu  three  years  in  deacon's  orders,  and  now 
admitted  to  the  Eldership.  2nd.  John  A.  Granade, 
it  was  suspected  that  his  temporal  business  in  Cum- 
berland was  not  satisfactorally  adjusted.  Bro.  Granade 
proposes  to  arbratate  the  business,  and  thereupon  he 
was  received  and  admitted  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 
3rd.  Benjamin  Young,  according  to  the  report  of  John 
Sale,  and  others,  Stands  Charged  of  haveing  said, 
that  he  composed  a  certain  song,  when  in  truth  he 
did  not; — that  he  had  the  misfortain  to  get  his  horses 
thye  broke,  when  it  was  not  so;  and  that  he  has  bap- 
tized, contrary  to  the  order  of  the  M.  E.  Church; 
after  B.  Young's  reply,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Con- 
ference, that  the  reports  might  mistake  what  said 
Young  did  say  respecting  the  two  first  charges,  and 
that  his  acknowledgement,  was  sufficient  for  the  last. 
After  a  plain  talke,  and  Hopeful  promises,  he  was  ad- 
mitted into  Connection,  and  ordained  to  the  office  of 
Deacon; — and  in  consideration  of  his  being  appointed 
a  Mitionary  to  the  Illinoies,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
office  of  an  Elder. 

Report  of  the  Committe  of  Claims. 
We  the  Committee,  judge  it  proper  under  the  present  circum- 
stances; to  take  the  whole  of  our  brethren's,  deficiencies  into 
consideration,  and  considering  them  as  suffering  Brethren,  we 
judge  it  proper  to  make  them  equal  in  their  loosing;  in  order 
to  which,  we  have  examined  their  accounts,  and  now  present 
you  with  the  following  statement;  expecting,  at  the  same  time 
that  the  Conference,  will  inspect,  correct,  or  ratify,  as  they  may 
judge  proper.   William  Burk's  account  stands  thus: 

Family  expenses,   $44  12 

Travilling  expenses,    24  63 

Deficient  in  salary,   24  50 


$93  25 

We  Judge  that  it  is  right  for  Bro.  Burk  to  pay  board  for  his 
wife,  and  that  the  people,  if  they  please,  may  pay  the  board  for 


The  Journal  for  1803. 


87 


him,  but  that  he  has  no  Just  demand  on  the  Conference  for  it. 
His  deficiencies  is  therefore  only,  $49.13. 
Benjamin  Lakin's  account,  $28.95. 

But  it  appears  that  the  Circuit  maintained  Bro.  Lakin's  wife 
and  her  Beast;  gratis.  It  is  therefore  our  opinion,  that  it  is  un- 
generous in  him  to  bring  a  demand  on  Conference;  and  seeing 
there  are  others  more  needy,  it  is  our  judgement  that  he  ought 
not  to  have  anything. 

Jesse  Walker's  account,  $165.37. 

And  it  appears  to  us,  that  $76  are  for  children.  It  Is  our 
judgement  that  the  demand  for  children  be  deducted,  and  then  he 
is  deficient  $89.37. 

Benjamin  Young's  is  $28.89,  but  $4.75  is  for  Doctor's  bills, 
which  we  judge  to  be  an  improper  charge  therefore  allow  him 
but  $24.14. 

Francis  Poythress  stands  on  our  Journal  as  a  claiment  for 
$80.00.  But  it  appears  that  he  is  able  to  support  himself,  and 
does  not  expect  or  wish  his  support  from  us.  We  therefore  judge, 
he  should  not  be  considered  as  dependant  on  us. 

Moneys  on  hand  to  make  up  deficiencies, — 
From    the    Preachers  Collected  for  those  who  had 

Fund,   $  29  00       lost  their  horses. 

From  the  Charter  Fund,  100  00     By  William  McKendree,.$78  65 

From  Holston  Circuit,  .     4  31     By  Lewis  Garrett,   3  00 

From  Nashville  Circuit,     2  00   

From  Scioto  Circuit,...    17  78  $81  65 

  Collected  for  Mitionaries, 

$153  09        By  William  Burk,  ...  .$19  00 


Deficien-  Propor- 


cies. 

tion. 

Francis  Asbury,.$ 

20 

36$ 

10 

00 

William  Burk, . . 

49 

13 

21 

12 

Jesse  Walker,. . . 

89 

37 

61 

56 

Benjamin  Lakin, 

28 

95 

00 

95 

Benjamin  Young, 

24 

14 

10 

14 

Louther  Taylor,. 

22 

50 

8 

50 

Elisha  Bowman,. 

22 

50 

8 

50 

Ralph  Lotspiech, 

13 

50 

00 

00 

Jacob  Young, . . . 

37 

00 

23 

00 

John  A.  Granade, 

12 

00 

00 

00 

John  McClure,  as 

a  gift 

9 

00, 

To  those  who  had  lost  or  needed 
|  horses, 

William  Burk  $25  00 

Benjamin  Young,..  25  00 
Ralph  Lotspiech,..  18  00 
Adjet  McGuire,....  13  65 
To  Mitionaries, 

Benjamin  Young  $  9  00 

Hezekiah  Harriman,   00  00 

and  Abraham  Amos   10  00 


$319  45  $153  09 


$81  65  $19  00 


88 


The  Rise  of  Metlwdism  in  the  West. 


This  Conference  voluntarily  relinquish  their  demand  on  the 
next  Conference  for  their  deficiencies,  and  resolve  that  what 
money's  they  may  have  shall  be  applied  to  the  most  needy  preach- 
ers, at  the  discretion  of  the  next  Conference. 

Ezekiel  Burdine  made  application  by  letter  to  this 
Conference  for  a  location,  but  the  circumstances  of  his 
Marriage,  and  removal  from  this,  to  the  South  Caro- 
lina Conference,  make  it  necessary,  in  our  judgement, 
to  refer  his  case  to  that  Conference,  where  all  the  parts 
may  be  fully  considered;  and  Bishop  Asbury  is  there- 
fore requested  to  take  the  papers,  which  respect  the 
case  of  Ezekiel  Burdine. 

At  our  last  Conference,  Stephen  Timmons  was  ap- 
pointed Supernumerary  to  Scioto  Circuit.  This  year 
he  asks  for  a  partial  Station,  but  by  his  letter,  and 
Elisha  Bowman's  testimony  it  appears  he  will  take 
no  Station  but  in  Scioto  Circuit,  and  it's  judged  im- 
proper to  give  him  that  Station.  The  Conference  is 
of  opinion  that  it  would  be  most  advisable  to  give  him 
a  location,  Kesolved  accordingly.  Lawner  Blackman 
and  Louther  Taylor,  in  consequence  of  being  removed 
from  the  Philadelphia  Conference  to  the  Western  Con- 
ference, lack  some  new  months  of  a  legal  probation 
for  the  Elder's  office.  The  Conference  is  of  opinion, 
that  as  their  names  have  Stood  among  the  Deacons  on 
the  Minutes  for  two  years;  and  as  their  Stations 
required  the  office  of  Elders;  that  they  should  stand 
their  election;  they  are  accordingly  elected. 

Conference,  Adjourned;  to  meet  again  on  the  2nd  day 
of  October,  1803.*  At  Mount  Garrizim  State  of  Ken- 
tucky. 

Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  Francis  Asbury. 

*The  date  here  intended  is  evidently  1804. 


The  Jowrval  for  1803. 


89 


Note  4. — The  seat  of  the  Western  Conference  in  1803  was 
Mount  Gerizim,  Harrison  County,  Ky.  Bishop  Asbury  came 
from  Ohio,  having  reached  that  State  on  September  8,  at  Steuben- 
ville.  Here  he  was  to  have  preached  in  the  courthouse;  but  as 
it  would  not  hold  the  people,  they  went  to  "a  Presbyterian  tent." 
At  Charlestown  he  preached  in  the  courthouse,  and  on  the  12th 
reached  Zanesville.  Passing  through  New  Lancaster  and  Pick- 
away Plains,  he  finally  reached  Chillicothe,  where  he  was  enter- 
tained at  the  home  of  Governor  Tiffin.  Marietta  at  that  time 
contained  1,000  houses  and  Cincinnati  as  many,  while  Hamilton 
contained  500.  Coming  into  Kentucky,  he  crossed  Bourbon  Coun- 
ty, and  on  Thursday,  the  30th  of  September,  he  reached  the  seat 
of  the  Conference.  (Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  114-117;  McFerrin, 
"Methodism  in  Tennessee,"  Vol.  I.,  page  419.) 

Speaking  of  the  Conference,  Asbury  in  his  Journal  says:  "We 
entered  fully  upon  our  conference  work;  but  I  had  to  preach 
nevertheless.  We  had  preaching  every  day;  and  the  people  con- 
tinued singing  and  praying,  night  and  day,  with  little  intermis- 
sion. On  Wednesday  the  meeting  closed.  We  hope  there  were 
twenty  souls  converted  to  God,  besides  five  who  are  reported  to 
have  been  converted  at  a  family  meeting.  Our  conference  ended 
on  Thursday  the  sixth.  I  had  taken  cold,  but  rode  twelve  miles  to 
Smith's,  and  was  driven  by  illness  to  bed."  (Journal,  Vol.  III., 
page  117.) 

Accompanied  by  four  of  the  preachers,  Asbury  proceeds  south- 
ward into  Tennessee.  Of  his  journey  into  the  West  this  year, 
Bishop  Asbury  says,  in  the  entry  for  October  14:  "What  a  road  we 
have  passed!  Certainly  the  worst  on  the  whole  continent,  even 
in  the  best  weather;  yet,  bad  as  it  was,  there  were  four  or  five 
hundred  crossing  the  rude  hills  whilst  we  were:  I  was  power- 
fully struck  with  the  consideration,  that  there  were  at  least  as 
many  thousand  emigrants  annually  from  east  to  west:  we  must 
take  care  to  send  preachers  after  these  people.  We  have  made 
one  thousand  and  eighty  miles  from  Philadelphia;  and  now,  what 
a  detail  of  sufferings  might  I  give,  fatiguing  to  me  to  write,  and 
perhaps  to  my  friends  to  read!  A  man  who  is  well  mounted,  will 
scorn  to  complain  of  the  roads,  when  he  sees  men,  women,  and 
children,  almost  naked,  paddling  bare-foot  and  bare-legged  along, 
or  laboring  up  the  rocky  hills,  whilst  those  who  are  best  off  have 
only  a  horse  for  two  or  three  children  to  ride  at  once.  If  these 
adventurers  have  little  or  nothing  to  eat,  it  is  no  extraordinary 
circumstance;  and  not  uncommon,  to  encamp  in  the  wet  woods 
after  night — in  the  mountains  it  does  not  rain,  but  pours.   I  too 


90 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


have  my  sufferings,  perhaps  peculiar  to  myself;  pain,  and  temp- 
tation; the  one  of  the  body,  and  the  other  of  the  spirit;  no  room 
to  retire  to — that  in  which  you  sit  common  to  all,  crowded  with 
women  and  children,  the  fire  occupied  by  cooking,  much  and 
long  loved  solitude  not  to  be  found,  unless  you  choose  to  run 
out  into  the  rain,  in  the  woods:  six  months  in  the  year  I  have 
had,  for  thirty-two  years,  occasionally,  to  submit  to  what  will 
never  be  agreeable  to  me;  but  the  people,  it  must  be  confessed, 
are  amongst  the  kindest  souls  in  the  world.  But  kindness  will 
not  make  a  crowded  log  cabin,  twelve  feet  by  ten,  agreeable; 
without  are  cold  and  rain;  and  within,  six  adults,  and  as  many 
children,  one  of  which  is  all  motion;  the  dogs,  too,  must  some- 
times be  admitted.  On  Saturday,  at  Felix  Ernest's,  I  found  that 
amongst  my  other  trials,  I  had  taken  the  itch;  and,  considering 
the  filthy  houses  and  filthy  beds  I  have  met  with,  in  coming  from 
the  Kentucky  Conference,  it  is  perhaps  strange  that  I  have  not 
caught  it  twenty  times:  I  do  not  see  that  there  is  any  security 
against  it,  but  by  sleeping  in  a  brimstone  shirt:  poor  bishop! 
But  we  must  bear  it  for  the  elect's  sake.  I  have  written  some 
letters  to  our  local  brethren,  and  read  the  book  of  Daniel  since 
I  have  been  in  this  house."    (Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  118,  119.) 

The  appointments  for  1803  were  as  follows: 

Holstox  District.    John  Watson,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Thomas  Milligan's  station  was  changed  last  year  to 
Clinch. 

Nollichuckie,  Samuel  Douthet. 
French  Broad,  John  Johnson. 
New  River,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 
Clinch,  Joab  Watson. 
Powell's  Valley,  Moses  Black. 
Wilderness,  Jacob  Young. 

Cumberland  District.    Lewis  Garrett,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Levin  Edney. 
Red  River,  Ralph  Lotspiech. 
Barren,  Anthony  Houston. 
Wayne,  William  Crutchfield. 
Livingston,  Jesse  Walker. 

Natchez,  Moses  Floyd,  H.  Harriman,  A.  Amos,  Tobias  Gibson, 

supernumeraries. 
Illinois,  Benjamin  Young,  missionary. 


The  Journal  for  1803. 


Kentucky  District.    William  M'Kendrce,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone,  Louther  Taylor,  John  McClure. 
Hinkstone,  John  A.  Grenade. 
Lexington,  Learner  Blackman. 
Lexingtontown,  Thomas  Wilkerson. 
Danville,  Benjamin  Lakin. 
Salt  River,  Adjet  McGuire. 
Shelby,  Fletcher  Sullivan. 

Ohio  District.    William  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Muskingum  and  Little  Kanawha,  George  Askin. 
Hockhockin,  James  Quinn,  John  Meek. 
Scioto,  William  Pattison,  Nathan  Barnes. 
Miami,  John  Sale,  Joseph  Oglesby. 
Guyandott,  Asa  Shinn. 


V. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
HELD  AT  MOUNT  GERRIZIM,  KENTUCKY, 
OCTOBER  2ND,  180^ 

Neither  of  the  bishops  were  present,  being  prevented 
by  affliction;  and  as  no  direction  came  to  hand,  the 
Conference  proceeded  to  choose  by  ballot  a  presedant; 
William  McKendree  was  accordingly  chosen,  and  took 
the  chare. 


Those  marked  thus  *  were  not  present. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  Lewis  Garrett, 
John  Watson,  John  Sale,  Lawner  Blackman,  and  Wil- 
liam Burk,  as  a  Committe  of  Appropriations. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  admit  on  trial  the  fol- 
lowing persons: 

1st.  From  the  Holston  Destrict:  William  Ellington, 
born  in  the  State  of  Georgia,  has  been  in  the  profes- 
sion of  religion  about  two  years,  and  has  travelled 
eleven  months,  and  came  recommended  from  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  Conference  of  Clinch  Circuit. 

2nd.  From  the  Kentucky  Destrict:  Samuel  Parker, 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  September  10th,  1773, 
has  been  in  the  profession  of  religion  14  years,  exer- 
cised as  a  local  preacher  for  about  two  years,  and  has 


Members  of  Conference. 


William  McKendree, 
John  Watson, 
William  Burk, 
Lewis  Garrett, 
Thomas  Wilkerson, 
John  Sale, 
Benjamin  Lakin, 
Hezekiah  Harriman, 


Louther  Taylor, 
Lawner  Blackman, 
Elisha  Bowman,* 
Benjamin  Young,* 
John  A.  Granade,* 
Jacob  Young, 
William  Crutchfield, 
Balph  Lotspiech, 
Jesse  Walker.*  1 


The  Journal  for  1804 . 


93 


travilled  a  Circuit  9  months,  he  came  recommended 
irom  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Shelby  Cir- 
cuit. 

3rd.  Joshua  Oglesby  has  travilled  9  months,  and 
came  recommended  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ence of  Danville  Circuit,  but  not  being  present  we 
could  obtain  no  further  information. 

4th.  William  Thompson,  a  native  of  Maryland,  born 
the  2nd  of  November,  1767,  has  been  in  the  profession 
of  religion  15  years,  has  laboured  as  a  local  preacher 
for  several  years,  and  ordained  to  the  office  of  Deacon 
1800,  and  has  travilled  Danville  Circuit  9  months,  and 
obtained  a  recommendation  from  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing Conference  of  said  Circuit. 

5th.  Adbel  Coleman,  a  native  of  New  York,  born 
October  9th,  1782,  has  been  in  the  profession  of  reli- 
gion 18  months,  travilled  Salt-river  and  Shelby  Cir- 
cuits 6  months,  was  well  received,  and  came  recom- 
mended from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Shel- 
by Circuit. 

6th.  William  Houston,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
August  5th,  1781,  has  been  in  the  profession  of  reli- 
gion about  three  years,  and  came  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Lexington  Circuit. 

3rd.  Cumberland  Destrict:  1st,  Eichard  Browning, 
who  has  been  in  the  profession  of  religion  about  4 
years,  has  travilled  6  months,  was  approved  of  in  the 
Circuit,  and  came  recommended  from  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conference  of  Barren  Circuit.  2nd,  Peter 
Cartwright,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  September  the 
1st,  1785,  has  provesed  religion  about  4  years,  has 
travilled  a  Circuit  9  months,  was  well  received,  and 
came  recommended  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ence of  Wayne  Circuit.  3rd,  Joseph  Williams,  a  native 
of  Pensylvania,  born  December  5th,  1778,  has  been  in 
the  profession  of  faith  in  Christ  three  years,  has  trav- 


94  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

illed  about  six  months,  and  came  recommended  by  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Red-river  Circuit. 
4th,  Miles  Harper,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  November 
4th,  1784,  profeses  to  have  been  converted  to  God  about 
4  years,  has  travilled  9  months,  was  prety  well  re- 
ceived, and  came  recommend  (ed)  by  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  Levingston  Circuit.  5th,  Edmond  Wilcox, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  is  now  about  twenty-seven  years 
of  age;  has  been  in  the  profession  of  religion  about 
2  years,  is  alltogether  untried  as  a  speaker,  but  came 
recommended  by  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
of  Red-river  Circuit.  6th,  Joshua  Barnes,  a  married 
man,  four  or  five  years  in  the  profession  of  religion, 
has  travilled  about  6  months,  of  Slender  gifts,  but  un- 
doubted piety,  came  recommended  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  Levingston  Circuit.  7th,  James  Axley, 
has  been  converted  about  two  years,  has  travilled  some 
months,  was  received  as  a  man  of  undoubted  piety, 
but  small  gifts,  and  came  recommended  by  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  in  Levingston  Circuit.  8th,  Joshua 
Riggin,  who  has  been  a  professor  of  religion  about  4 
or  5  years,  has  exhorted  in  his  neighbourhood  for  some 
time,  and  came  recommended  by  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
Conference  of  Barrin  Circuit,  but  his  gifts  are  alto- 
gether unknown  to  us  at  present.  9th,  Thomas  Lasley, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  born  March  31st,  1782,  for  about 
2  years  he  has  professed  the  knowledge  of  sin  forgiven, 
has  travilled  three  months,  he  came  recommended  by 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Wayne  Circuit, 
where  his  grace  and  gifts  are  thought  favourable  of. 

Ohio  Destrict :  1st,  Caleb  Wesley  Cloud,  born  Feb- 
ruary 11th  day,  1782,  in  the  state  of  Delaware,  New- 
castle County,  converted  January  8th  day,  1801,  his 
piety  and  gifts  were  spoken  well  of  where  he  was 
known;  he  therefore  obtained  a  recommendation  from 
the    Quarterly    Conference    of    Hoc-knocking  Circuit. 


The  Journal  for  1804.  95 

2nd,  Benjamin  Edge,  born  February  27th,  1774,  made 
application  to  the  last  Conference  but  was  not  received, 
but  was  afterwards  received  by  the  presiding  elder, 
and  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference,  of  the  Miami  Cir- 
cuit, and  travilled  nine  months,  he  has  been  in  the  pro- 
fession of  religion  about  3  years,  is  esteemed  for  his 
undoubted  piety,  but  of  contracted  abilities,  accompi- 
nied  with  some  peculiarities,  and  came  recommended 
by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Muskingum  Circuit. 
3rd,  Obed  Noland,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  born 
March  6th,  1777,  who  has  professed  religion  3  years, 
was  recommended  by  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  Dan- 
ville Circuit,  to  the  presiding  elder  of  the  Kentucky 
Destrict,  and  was  put  on  a  Circuit,  continued  about 
three  months,  and  went  home  of  his  own  accord,  but 
came  forward  to  the  annual  Conference,  and  desired  to 
be  tried  again,  it  was  the  opinion  of  his  acquaintences, 
that  he  professed  gifts  and  graces  to  be  useful,  and 
as  he  is  much  addicted  to  the  nerve  complaint,  the 
Conference  are  of  opinion  that  his  failure  should  be 
looked  over,  and  that  he  should  be  admitted  upon  his 
former  recommendation. 

Repoet  of  the  Committee  of  Appropriations. 

Publick  Collection  at  Conference,  by  William  Burk  $  32  67 

Given  by  the  preachers  in  Conference,   30  40 

Draft  of  the  Charter  fund,   100  00 

Draft  on  the  Book  fund,   100  00 


$263  07 


Deficien-    The  appropriation  of  money,  according 
cies.  to  the  calls  of  necessity. 


William  McKendree,  . . 

$  16 

96 

$  00  00.. 

William  Burk, 

96 

9 

47  00.. 

John  Sale, 

19 

3 

00  00. . 

Lewis  Garrett, 

22 

50 

00  00.. 

John  Watson, 

8 

2 

00  00.. 

Benjamin  Lakin, 

61 

18 

13  00.. 

Thomas  Wilkerson, 

3 

10 

00  00.. 

226 

88 

Carried  Over,   J 

60  00.. 

96 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Brought  Over, 
George  Askin, 
William  Thompson, 
James  Quinn, 
Jacob  Watson, 
Asa  Shinn, 
Jacob  Young, 
William  Crutchfield, 
Anthony  Houston, 
Joseph  Oglesby, 
William  Patterson, 
Nathan  Barnes, 
John  Meek,' 
Adjit  McGuire 
Joshua  Oglesby, 
John  McClure, 
John  Johnston, 
Abraham  Amos, 
Jesse  Walker, 
Peter  Cartwright, 
Miles  Harper, 
Samuel  Parker, 
Adbel  Coleman, 
Moses  Black, 
Benjamin  Edge, 
Hezekiah  Harriman, 
Lawner  Blackman, 
Joseph  Oglesby, 
Fletcher  Sulivan,  on 


Deficien 
cies. 

$226  88 
21  00 
37  60 
61  61 

4  00 
23  00 
16  75 
16  70 
44 

6 
2 
9 
1 

10  00 
15  75 
10  00 

5  00 
65  89 

107  00 

23  00 
26  50 
13  00 

7  00 
43  75 

24  00 
80  00 
00  00 


The  appropriation  of  money,  according 
calls  of  necessity. 


Brought  Over, 


Mitionary, 


 Mitionary 

 Mitionary 

Benjamin  Youngs  Account  


|$899  62 1 1    Gained  in  Count  $1 


60  00 

4  00.  . 

12  3% 

12  3% 
00  00.. 
15  00.. 

5  00.. 
00  00.. 

4  00.. 
00  00.. 
00  00. . 
28  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
10  00 
28  00 
00  00 

4  00 
00  00 
00  00 
18  00 

4  00 
20  00 
20  00 

13  00 
7  00 


$264  iy2 


Quest.  Who  are  admitted  into  full  Connection? 
Ansr.  1st.  Jacob  Young,  a  man  of  considerable  abili- 
ties, who  has  travilled  in  Kentucky  and  Holston  Des- 
tricts,  and  has  been  in  some  measure  useful,  his  char- 
acter stands  fair.  2nd.  William  Crutchfield,  a  man  of 
good  abilities,  and  has  travilled  in  Kentucky  and  Cum- 
berland Destricts;  has  been  in  some  degree  useful,  his 
charecter  stands  fair.  3rd.  Ralph  Lotspiech,  who  has 
travilled  in  Kentucky  and  Cumberland  Destricts,  a 
man  in  the  beginning  of  his  publick  labours  but  of 
small  abilities,  but  has  improved  considerably,  and  the 
last  year  tolerable  useful,  his  charecter  stands  fair. 
4th.  Jesse  Walker,  who  entered  the  travilling  Connec- 


The  Journal  for  180 Jf. 


97 


tion  in  the  capassity  of  a  married  man,  he  has  trav- 
illed  in  the  Cumberland  Destrict,  a  man  of  consider- 
able gifts  and  usefulness,  who  still  feels  willing  to  give 
himself  to  the  worke,  his  charecter  examined  and 
stands  fair. 

Quest.  Who  are  located?  Ans.  1st.  Samuel  Dou- 
thit,  who  applied  by  letter  for  a  location  and  a  ma- 
jority of  the  Conference  were  of  opinion  that  he  should 
obtain  said  location.  2nd.  Moses  Black,  applied  to  the 
Conference  by  letter  for  a  location,  or  a  dispensation 
to  go  to  South  Carolina,  to  see  after  some  of  his  sis- 
ter's children,  the  Conference  has  accordingly  granted 
him  a  dispensation  for  three  months.  3rd.  John  A. 
Granade,  applied  to  the  Conference  by  letter  for  a  lo- 
cation, and  obtained  the  same.  4th.  Moses  Floyd,  who 
applied  to  Conference  by  letter  for  a  location.  Some 
deficulties  existed  which  may  be  known  by  reference 
to  some  letters  addressed  to  the  preachers  and  Con- 
ference, which  are  filed;  the  Conference  are  of  opinion 
that  their  is  no  just  ground,  for  crimmination,  and 
therefore  have  granted  him  a  location.  5th.  Benjamin 
Young,  who  applied  to  Conference  by  letter  for  a  loca- 
tion, but  in  the  same  letter  states  that  he  has  conduct- 
ed himself  in  such  a  way  that  he  laid  himself  open  to 
the  judgement  of  the  Conference,  who  after  metureing 
the  subject,  judged  proper  to  exclude  him;  the  grounds 
on  which  the  Conference  excluded  him  may  be  seen  by 
refference  to  the  letters,  which  are  filed. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  William  Crutch- 
field,  Jacob  Young,  and  Ralph  Lotspiech  to  the  office 
of  Deacons,  but  Bishops  not  being  present,  they  were 
not  ordained  but  returned  on  the  minutes  as  elected. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  Jesse  Walker, 
Joab  Watson,  Asa  Shinn,  and  George  Askin  to  the 
office  of  Elders;  but  the  Bishops  not  being  present, 
they  were  not  ordained,  but  returned  on  the  minutes 
7 


98 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


as  elected;  Joab  Watson,  Asa  Shinn  and  George  Askin 
had  not  travilled  out  their  probation,  but  being  in  the 
same  situation  of  Lawner  Blackman  and  Louther  Tay- 
lor, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  they  may  be 
elected  on  the  same  principals,  whose  case  may  be  seen 
be  refering  to  the  Journal  of  the  last  Annual  Conference. 

It  is  the  joint  opinion  of  Thomas  Wilkerson  and  the 
Conference,  that  at  present  he  does  not  possess  strength 
of  body  sufficient  for  the  toils  of  a  station;  the  Con- 
ference therefore  grant  him  a  dispensation,  until  he 
and  the  presiding  Elder  of  the  Kentucky  Destrict  shall 
judge  it  proper  for  him  to  take  a  station. 

Conference  adjourned  to  meet  again  at  Anthonv 
Houston's,  October  2nd,  1805. 

William  Burk,  Secretary.     William  McKendree. 

Note  5. — Neither  Bishop  Asbury  nor  Bishop  Whatcoat  was 
present  at  the  Conference  of  1804.  Bishop  Asbury  lay  sick  in 
Western  Pennsylvania,  and  there  are  no  entries  in  his  Jour- 
nal from  September  5  to  October  9.  (Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III., 
pages  146,  147.) 

Peter  Cartwright,  who  entered  the  Western  Conference  this 
year,  however,  states  in  his  Autobiography  that  Bishop  Asbury 
presided  at  the  Conference.  (Autobiography,  72.)  This  is  evi- 
dently a  mistake,  as  Asbury  states  in  his  Journal  under  date  of 
October  9,  "After  thirty-four  days  of  afflictive  illness,  I  re-com- 
mence my  journal.  I  have  been,  during  my  illness,  at  Harry 
Stevene's;  kinder  souls  than  this  family  I  could  not  wish;  but 
there  were  many  of  them  and  others  continually  coming  and 
going,"  etc.    (Journal  III.,  146.) 

Another  proof  of  the  mistake  of  Cartwright  is  contained  in 
the  Journal  of  the  Western  Conference,  which  states  that  "Neither 
of  the  Bishops  were  present,  being  prevented  by  affliction,"  nor 
does  the  signature  of  Bishop  Asbury  appear  at  the  end  of  the 
Conference  Journal  for  this  year. 

The  appointments  for  the  Western  Conference  for  1804  are 
given  in  the  General  Minutes  as  follows: 

Holston  District.   Jonathan  Jackson,  P.  Elder. 
Holston,  Joab  Watson,  William  Houston. 


The  Journal  for  180 % 


Nollichuckie,  William  Ellington,  Thomas  Lasley. 
French  Broad,  Elisha  W.  Bowman,  Joshua  Oglesby. 
New  River,  Anthony  Houston. 
Clinch,  Moses  Black,  Obed  Noland. 
Powell's  Valley,  Thomas  Milligan. 

Kentucky  District.    William  McKendree,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone,  George  Askin,  Joshua  Riggin. 

Lexington,  John  Sale,  Edmund  Wilcox. 

Hinkstone,  Samuel  Parker,  Abdel  Coleman. 

Salt  River  and  Shelby,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Danville,  Wm.  Thompson,  Adjet  McGuire. 

Licking,  Benjamin  Edge. 

Cumberland  District.   Lewis  Garrett,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  William  Crutchfield,  Fletcher  Sullivan. 

Red  River,  Miles  Harper,  James  Axley. 

Barren,  Ralph  Lotspeich. 

Wayne,  Asa  Shinn,  John  McClure. 

Roaring  River,  Richard  Browning. 

Livingston  and  Hartford,  Jesse  Walker,  Joshua  Barnes. 

Natchez,  Learner  Blackman,  Nathan  Barnes. 

Illinois,  Joseph  Oglesby. 

Ohio  District.    William  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Miami  and  Mad  River,  John  Meek,  Abraham  Amos. 
Scioto,  Louther  Taylor,  Caleb  W.  Cloud. 
Hockhocking,  James  Quinn,  Joseph  Williams. 
Muskingum  and  Kanawha,  Jacob  Young. 
Guyandott,  William  Pattison. 


VI. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE,  HELD  AT 
ANTHONY  HOUSTON'S,  SCOTT  COUNTY,  KEN- 
TUCKY, OCTOBER  2ND,  A.D.  1805* 


Those  marked  with  *  were  not  present. 

Members 

of  Conference. 

Francis  Asburv 

.Tps^p  Walkpr  *  plppfpd  last" 

Richard  Whatcoat 

_1  l  1  V_  XX  CI  X  vX           T  T   JJL  d      \_  \J  IX  L  ^ 

William  McKendree, 

Ciporffp      Askin  ordained 

William  Rnpk 

El  dor 

1  J1\JL~  L  , 

juc  u  io     vi  aJ  i  v/i 

"William    {~1t»i  i  tpli  fi  pi  d 

IT  Jl  licllli           JL  ULLllUClUj 

.Tonathnn  .Tack^on 

\JX±<X  LXJ.CLXA       f 7  It  V. IV O U ^ i j 

Jacob   Von  no' 

Thomas  TYHlkprson 

Raliili  Eotsoipcli 

•Tnlm  Snip 

\  dipt  IYTpCi-i "mt*p 

Benjamin  Lakin, 

William  Pattison, 

Lawner  Blackman,* 

Anthoney  Houston, 

Louther  Taylor, 

Joseph  Oglesby, 

Thomas  Milligan,* 

John  McClure, 

Moses  Black,* 

Abraham  Amos, 

Elisha  Bowman, 

John  Meek, 

James  Quinn, 

Nathan  Barnes,  elected  to 

Asa  Shinn, 

the  office  of  Deacon. 

Joab  Watson, 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  nominate  Joab  Watson, 
Secretary.  Adjet  McGuire,  being  accused  with  saying 
masters  ought  not  correct  their  slaves,  and  he  denied 
it,  after  which  the  case  was  investigated  pro  and  con 
(as  far  as  circumstances  would  admit)  and  the  Con- 
ference concluded  he  was  not  guilty. 

Asa  Shinn  and  Joab  Watson,  being  elected  last  Con- 
ference to  the  office  of  Elders;  but  the  Bishops  not  be- 
ing present  were  not  ordained,  were  presented  for  ex- 
amination, and  were  afterward  ordained. 

William  Crutchfield,  Jacob  Young,  and  Ralph  Lot- 
spiech,  being  elected  last  Conference  to  the  Deacons 


The  Journal  for  1805. 


101 


office,  were  presented  for  examination  and  were  after- 
ward ordained. 

Resolved,  that  two  Committees  be  appointed,  the  1st 
a  Committee  of  Address,  consisting  of  three  members. 
2nd,  A  Committee  of  Appropriations,  consisting  of  four 
members. 

Proceeded  to  elect  by  ballot,  William  Burk,  William 
McKendree,  and  Thomas  Wilkerson,  the  Committee  of 
Address.  Proceeded  to  elect,  by  ballot,  John  Sale, 
Louther  Taylor,  Lewis  Garrett,  and  Elisha  Bowman, 
the  Committee  of  Appropriations. 

The  president  proceeded  to  read  the  address  from 
the  Virginia,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  Yorke,  and 
New  England  Conferences;  which  gave  a  summery 
statement  of  there  temporal  and  spiritual  concerns: — 
He  likewise  proceeded  to  read  an  Address  from  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Charterd  Fund.  The  Confer- 
ence proceeded  to  vote  a  draught  of  |300  on  the  Book 
Concern,  and  $150  on  the  Charterd  Fund;  to  be  appro- 
priated to  the  use  of  the  itinerant  preachers,  or  some 
charitable  purpose. 

Second  Day  op  Conference. 

Motion,  Shall  those  who  were  elected  last  Conference 
to  the  office  of  Deacons,  and  ordained  this,  be  marked 
in  the  Minutes  with  an  asterism?  No;  but  shall  be 
eligible  to  the  elders  office  next  Conference. 

Who  are  ordained  Deacons?  Adjet  McGkiier,  Wil- 
liam Pattison,  Anthony  Houston,  Joseph  Oglesby, 
John  McClure,  Abraham  Amos,  John  Meek,  Jesse  Head, 
and  Abner  Leonard.  The  two  last  were  Local  Preach- 
ers, being  recommend  as  required  in  the  Dicipline. 

Motion,  Shall  the  Committee  of  address  write  letters 
to  the  several  Quarterly  Conferences  in  the  boundary 
of  the  Western  Conference?    Resolved  they  shall. 

Motion,  Shall  said  committee  write  an  Epistle  to  the 


102 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West 


several  Annual  Conferences  in  America ;  Concerning 
the  Temporal  and  Spiritual  State  of  the  Western  Con- 
ference?   Resolved  they  shall. 

Motion,  Shall  said  committee  write  a  letter  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Charterd  Fund?    Resolved  they  shall. 

Motion,  Shall  said  committee  write  to  the  General 
Book  Steward?    Resolved  they  shall. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Conference,  that  we  live  in 
an  age  in  which  there  is  great  need  to  cry  aloud,  and 
spare  not,  and  show  lukewarm  professors  the  danger 
of  resting  in  a  form  only,  and  urge  experimental  and 
practical  holiness,  and  teach  sinners  their  utmost  peril, 
and  lead  them  to  the  Saviour  of  Men. 

Afternoon,  proceeded  to  take  the  numbers  of  mem- 
bers on  the  different  circuits,  belonging  to  the  Western 
Conference.  The  preachers  proceeded  to  give  a  state- 
ment of  what  they  received  as  Quarteradge  since  last 
Conference,  which  may  be  seen  in  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  of  Appropriation. 

Zadok   B.   Thackston   came   forward  recommended, 
was  presented,  and  ordained  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 
Third  Day  of  Conference. 

The  President  proceeded  to  examine  a  fiew  who  were 
admired  last  Conference,  being  absent  were  not  exam- 
ined, viz..  James  Axley,  Joshua  Riggin,  Caleb  W. 
Cloud,  and  Richard  Browning.  Three  probationers 
were  also  examined  (i.e.)  Thomas  Heliums,  William 
Hitt.  Zadock  B.  Thackston. 

Who  are  admitted  on  trial?  Those  marked  thus  X 
were  received  without  an  examination,  before  the  Con- 
erence;  not  being  present. 

X  George  Christopher  Light,  who  is  a  native  of  West- 
morland County,  Pensylvania,  and  was  born  January, 
A.D.  1785. 

William  Hitt  was  born  October  28th,  1779,  Fauquier 
County,  Virginia.    Zadok  B.  Thackston,  has  a  family, 


The  Journal  for  1805. 


103 


but  is  willing  to  travil  as  a  preacher;  he  is  in  Deacon's 
orders  and  was  born  February  21st  day,  1766,  Prince 
Edward  County,  Virginia,  and  has  been  in  the  profes- 
sion of  religion  upwards  of  12  years.  Thomas  Heliums 
was  born  June  5th  day,  1781,  Green  County,  Tennessee. 
In  the  profession  of  religion  about  six  years.  He  was 
examined  before  the  Quarterly  Meeting  and  employed 
by  the  presiding  elder,  and  has  travilled  9  months. 

X  John  Thompson  was  born   .    In  the  profession 

of  religion  about  3  years,  was  examined  before  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  and  employed  by  the  presiding 
Elder.    Has  travilled  6  months.    X  Charles  R.  Matheny 

was  born   ;  has  been  in  the  profession  of  religion 

3  years,  and  has  been  travilling  six  months.  X  Samuel 
Sellers,  has  been  a  professor  of  religion  three  years, 
and  was  examined,  and  employed  by  the  preciding 
Elder,  and  has  travilled  six  months.  X' David  Young 
 .  X  Henry  Fisher,  has  been  a  professor  of  reli- 
gion three  years,  speaking  in  publick  2  years  as  a  Lo- 
cal Preacher,  and  has  been  travilling  six  months. 
X  Moses  Ashworth,  has  been  travilling  nine  months. 

The  Bishop  proceeded  to  ordain  Joseph  Moore,  a 
Local  Preacher,  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Afternoon — The  Bishops  and  Secretary  signed  the 
order  to  the  President  of  the  Charterd  Fund,  for  $150, 
to  be  paid  to  the  General  Book  Stewards. 

The  report  of  the  appropriate  Committee  was  pre- 
sented, read,  and  approved. 


Report  of  the  Committee  Claims. 

Collected  from  the  Circuits,  %  24  87 

Draft  on  the  Charter  Fund,   150  00 

Draft  on  the  Book  Fund,   300  00 

Publick  Collection  at  Conference   51  50 

Collection  from  the  preachers  at  Conference,. .  55  25 

Extra  Collection  for  Brother  Bowman,   10  00 


$591  62 


104  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Deficen- 


Jonathan  Jackson,  9  Months,  . 

William  Houston,   

Thomas  Lasley,  

Elisha  Bowman,   

Joshua  Oglesby,   

Anthony  Houston,  

Moses  Black,  

Thomas  Milligan,   

Joshua  Riggan,   

John  Sale,   

Edmond  Wilcox,  3  Months,  . . . 

Samuel  Parks,  

Adbel  Coleman,  

Benjamin  Lakin  

Peter  Cartwright,  

William  Thompson,  9  Months, 

Adjet  McGuire,   

Benjamin  Edge,  

Lewis  Garrett,  

Ralph  Lotspiech,   

Asa  Shinn,   

John  McClure,   

Richard  Browning,   

Jesse  Walker,  

Joseph  Oglesby,   

William  Burk,   

Louther  Taylor,  

James  Quinn,   

Joseph  Williams,  

Jacob  Young,   

William  Pattison,   

Thomas  Wilkerson,   


Francis  Asbury,  Expends,  .... 

Do        Do  Salery,   

Richard  Whatcoat,  Salery,  

Joseph  Crawford,   

William  McKendree's  Expences, 

William  Burk's  Expences,  

John  Sale's  Expences,   

Jacob  Young's  Expences,   

Jesse  Walker's  Expences,  


cies 

$  15 

45 

20 

00 

19 

00 

20 

00 

39 

50 

46 

50 

45 

20 

50 

11 

5 

00 

43 

65 

10 

00 

20 

00 

18 

00 

61 

17 

24 

60 

26 

57 

14 

82 

20 

00 

66 

11 

27 

10 

38 

50 

38 

75 

21 

19 

60 

00 

43 

50 

34 

16 

6 

31 

51 

29 

24 

OC 

23 

45 

18 

50 

32 

25 

985 

11 

985  11 
I  Appro- 
Missionary's,  !  priated 

Elisha  Bowman  |$100  00 

William  Pattison,   I    30  00 


Caleb  W.  Cloud, 
Thomas  Lasley, 


30  00 
30  00 


Propor- 
tion. Expences . 
00  45 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  50 
26  50 
09  20 
29  89 
00  00 

3  65 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
21  17 

4  61 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
26  14 

7  10 
18  50 
18  75 

1  49 
20  00 
23  50 
00  00 
00  00 
11  29 
00  00 

3  45 
00  00 
00  00 


24  61 
11  43 

11  43 
30  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 
00  00 


312  66 


$190  00 


The  Journal  for  1805. 


105 


Proportion  of  Deficencies,  . . 
Appropriated  for  Expenses,  . 
Appropriated  for  Missionarys, 


$312  66 
85  91 
190  00 


Lost  in  Count, 


$588  57 
3  05 


$591  62 


The  Committee  of  Address  presented  and  read  their 
letter  to  the  Brethren  in  the  Quarterly  Meetings  of 
the  several  circuits,  which  passed  the  approbation  of 
the  Conference. 

Samuel  Douthit  deposited  $20  two  years  past  in  the 
hands  of  William  McKendree,  to  be  appropriated  to 
the  paying  of  a  teacher  in  the  Bethel  Academy;  but 
failing  to  employ  one,  he  has  refunded  the  money,  by 
Elisha  Bowman. 

Who  remain  on  trial?  William  Ellington,  who  went 
to  Georgia  last  July,  but  sent  word  to  Conference  that 
he  would  fill  any  station  the  Bishop  should  think  prop- 
er to  give  him.  Samuel  Parker,  Joshua  Oglesby,  Wil- 
liam Thompson,  William  Houston,  Richard  Browning; 
Peter  Cartwright  stood  reproved  before  the  Conference, 
for  some  of  his  conduct,  but  promising  amendment,  he 
was  continued  on  Trial;  Joseph  Williams,  and  Milds 
Harper. 


Joshua  Barnes,  being  a  married  man,  and  somewhat 
encumbered,  he  desisted  from  travilling.  Edmond 
Wilcox,  in  the  first  year  of  his  probation,  behaved  so 
very  imprudent,  that  the  Conference  resolved  to  ex- 
punge his  name  from  the  minutes:  James  Axley,  Josh- 
ua Riggin,  Thomas  Lasley,  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  Benjamin 
Edge.  Obed  Nolen,  married  in  the  first  year  of  his 
probation,  left  his  Circuit  and  went  home. 

Motion,  Shall  the  following  alteration  take  place  in 
the  5th  question  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Con- 


Fourth  Day  op  Conference. 


106  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

f'erence,  (ie)  Who  have  been  elected  and  ordained  Eld- 
ers this  year?  Instead  of,  Who  are  the  Elders?  Re- 
solved, by  a  unanimous  voice,  that  it  shall;  Resolved, 
also,  that  the  former  Elders'  names  shall  be  printed  in 
Itallics; 

Motion,  Shall  the  following  alteration  take  place  in 
the  7th  question  of  the  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence? (ie)  Who  have  Located  this  year?  Instead  of 
the  present  form?    Resolved,  it  shal. 

Motion,  Shall  the  8th  question  of  the  Minutes  of  the 
Annual  Conference  be  devided  into  the  two  following 
questions?  1st,  Who  are  the  Supernumerary  preach- 
ers? 2nd,  Who  are  the  superannuated  and  worn-out 
preachers?   Resolved  it  shall  be  by  a  majority. 

The  Committee  of  Address  proceeded  to  read  to  the 
Conference  their  letter  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Chartered 
Fund,  and  was  approved  by  the  Conference.  The 
preachers'  characters  were  examined  before  the  Confer- 
ence. 

Who  have  located  this  year?  Lewis  Garrett,  Wil- 
liam Crutchfield,  Joab  Watson. 

Who  are  Supernumeraries?    Jonathan  Jackson. 

The  President  of  the  Conference  suggested  the  fol- 
lowing idea,  (ie)  that  it  would  be  most  proper  for  the 
riding  preachers  to  disintangle  themselves  from  all 
merchandesing,  &c. 

On  motion  Resolved,  that  the  next  Western  Confer- 
ence shall  be  on  Nollichuckie,  Tennessee  State,  Eben- 
ezer,  September  15th,  1806. 

Resolved,  that  the  Committee  of  Address  write  a  few 
lines  to  the  Brethren  at  Ebenezer,  concerning  the  meet- 
ing of  next  Conference;  and  to  the  absent  members  of 
the  Conference,  especially  to  Thomas  Milligan  and  Mo- 
ses Black. 


The  Journal  for  1805.  107 

Fifth  Day  op  Conference. 

William  Virmillion  entered  the  list  of  probationers  a 
little  different  from  our  common  custom,  not  being 
formally  recommended,  but  the  united  testimony  of 
Thomas  Heliums  and  William  Houston  concerning  him, 
his  gifts,  &c. 

The  Committee  of  Address  read  their  letter  to  the 
General  Book  Stewards,  and  was  approved  by  the  Con- 
ference. 

We  have  this  day  covenanted  to  pray  for  our  breth- 
ern  in  the  succeeding  Conferences;  especially  in  the 
time  of  their  sitting. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  the  Conference,  and  consent  of 
the  Missionaries,  that  it  would  be  most  proper  for 
them  to  stay  two  years  on  their  mission;  provided  it 
be  compatible  with  their  health,  and  the  judgment  of 
their  Presiding  Elder,  unless  recalled  by  the  Annual 
Conference ; 

William  Pattison,  one  of  the  Missionaries,  was  elect- 
ed and  ordained  to  the  office  of  an  Elder,  in  the  first 
year  of  his  probation  for  that  office,  in  consequence  of 
his  Mission. 

Thomas  Lasley  and  Caleb  W.  Cloud  were  elected  and 
ordained  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon,  after  one  year  of 
their  probation  for  that  office;  in  consequence  of  their 
Mission  to  the  Natchez. 

The  Committee  of  Address  read  their  letters  ad- 
dressed to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conferences,  to  Thom- 
as Milligan,  &  Felin  Earnest;  and  was  approved  by  the 
Conference. 

Said  Committee  read  their  address  to  the  several 
Annual  Conferences,  and  was  approved  by  the  Confer- 
ence. The  Conference  spent  a  few  hours,  this  evening, 
in  speaking  of  the  work  of  God  in  their  souls  and  Cir- 
cuits. 


108 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Sixth  Day  op  Conference. 

The  Committee  of  Address  read  a  letter  addressed  to 
the  brethren  who  entertained  the  present  Annual  Con- 
ference, and  it  was  approved  by  the  Conference. 

Resolved  that  the  Committee  of  Address  write  a  let- 
ter to  the  Stewards  and  Brethren  in  the  Natchez.  Re- 
solved that  Thomas  Wilkerson  take  the  Books  and  pa- 
pers of  the  Annual  Conference. 

Resolved  that  Thomas  Wilkerson  be  appointed  (with 
two  or  three  more,  as  he  may  judge  proper  to  call  to 
his  assistance)  a  committee  to  prepare  a  room  for  the 
reception  of  the  next  Annual  Conference;  to  station 
the  preachers  in  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Confer- 
ence, and  to  see  that  they  keep  their  stations. 

The  President  read  out  the  appointments  of  the 
preachers  to  their  several  Destrict  and  Circuits,  and 
the  Conference  adjourned  till  the  15th  of  Sept.,  1806. 

Signed  in  and  by  order  of  Conference. 

William  Burk,  Secretary.      Francis  Asbury, 

Richard  Whatcoat. 

Note  6. — To  make  amends  for  the  absence  of  the  bishops 
from  the  Conference  of  1804  both  bishops  attended  the  session 
of  1805.  The  bishops  came  to  the  Conference  from  Ohio,  cross- 
ing into  Kentucky  on  September  19. 

Of  the  session  of  the  Conference,  Bishop  Asbury  states  in  his 
Journal:  "We  opened  our  Conference  in  great  peace;  there  were 
about  twenty-five  members  present;  six  hours  a  day  were  stead- 
ily occupied  with  business.  The  committees  of  claims  and  of 
addresses  did  much  work,  and  it  was  well  done.  I  completed  my 
plan  for  the  coming  year,  and  submitted  it  to  the  presiding 
elders,  who  suggested  but  two  alterations;  may  they  be  for  the 
best!  On  the  Sabbath  day  I  preached  to  about  three  thousand 
souls.  On  Tuesday,  after  the  rise  of  conference,  I  rode  to  Lex- 
ington; and  on  Wednesday  to  J.  S.  Hoard's,  Jessamine  County. 
I  was  under  affliction  of  body;  but  perfect  love,  peace  within, 
and  harmony  without,  healed  every  malady."  (Asbury's  Jour- 
nal, Vol.  III.,  page  179.) 


The  Journal  for  1805. 


101) 


The  appointments  for  1805  (1806  in  the  General  Minutes) 
were  as  follows: 

Holston  District.    Thomas  Wilkerson,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Anthony  Houston,  William  Vermillion. 

Nollichuckie,  Moses  Black. 

French  Broad,  Ralph  Lotspeich. 

New  River,  Joseph  Williams. 

Clinch,  John  McClure,  George  C.  Light. 

Powell's  Valley,  William  Hitt. 

Carter's  Valley,  Thomas  Milligan. 

Cumberland  District.    William  McKendree,  p.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Zadok  B.  Thackston. 

Red  River,  Thomas  Heliums. 

Barren,  Joshua  Oglesby. 

Roaring  River,  Benjamin  Edge. 

Wayne,  William  Ellington,  Henry  Fisher. 

Livingston,  William  Houston. 

Hartford,  Jesse  Walker. 

Illinois,  Charles  B.  Matheny. 

Kentucky  District.    William  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone,  Jacob  Young,  Samuel  Sellers. 
Licking,  Adjet  McGuire. 
Lexington,  Samuel  Parker,  Miles  Harper. 
Hinkstone,  Geo.  Askin,  Richard  Browning. 
Danville,  William  Thompson. 

Salt  River  and  Shelby,  Asa  Shinn,  David  Young,  Moses  Ashworth. 

Ohio  District.   John  Sale,  P.  Elder. 

Miami,  Banjamin  Lakin,  Joshua  Riggin. 

Mad  River,  John  Thompson. 

Scioto,  James  Quinn,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Hockhocking,  John  Meek,  James  Axley. 

Muskingum,  Louther  Taylor. 

Little  Kanawha,  Joseph  Oglesby. 

Guyandott,  Abraham  Amos. 

Mississippi  District.   Learner  Blackman,  p.  Elder. 
Natchez,  Nathan  Barnes,  Thomas  Lasley. 
Wilkinson,  Caleb  W.  Cloud. 
Claiborne,  William  Pattison. 
Appalousas,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 


VII. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
HELD  AT  EBENEZER,  ACCORDING  TO  AD- 
JOURNMENT, STATE  OF  TENNESSEE, 
SEPTEMBER  THE  15TH,  1806." 

Kembers  of  Conference. 

Those  marked  thus  *  were  absent. 

Francis  Asbury,  Elisha  Bowman,* 

William  McKendree,  James  Quinn,* 

William  Burk,  Asa  Shinn,* 

Thomas  Wilkerson,  George  Askin, 

John  Sale,*  Jesse  Walker, 

Benjamin  Lakin,  Jacob  Young, 

Lawner  Blackman,*  William  Pattison,* 

Louther  Taylor,*  Ralph  Lotspiech, 

Thomas  Milligan,  John  McClure, 

Moses  Black,  Abraham  Amos, 

Adjet  McGuier,  John  Meek,* 

Anthony  Houston,  Nathan  Barnes.* 
Joseph  Ogelsby, 

The  following  were  Admitted  into  full  Connection: 

Samuel  Parker,  Joshua  Ogelsby, 

William  Ellington,  William  Thompason, 

William  Houston,  Richard  Browning, 

Peter  Cartwright,  Joseph  Williams, 

Miles  Harper,  James  Axley, 

Thomas  Lasley,*  Caleb  W.  Cloud.* 
Benjamin  Edge, 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  nominate  and  elect 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  The  Conference  proceeded 
to  the  examination  and  election  of  those  eligible  to  the 
office  of  Deacons.  Those  elected  are  as  follows:  Wil- 
liam Ellington,  but  it  is  the  opinion  of  some  of  the 
Conference,  that  he  is  too  much  relaxed  in  the  execu- 


The  Journal  for  1806. 


Ill 


tion  of  dicipline.  Samuel  Parker,  Joshua  Ogelsby, 
William  Houston,  Richard  Browning.  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  elected  with  the  proviso,  that  the  president 
give  him  a  caution  to  be  more  serious,  the  President 
proceeded  to  give  him  the  caution.  Joseph  Williams, 
Miles  Harper,  James  Axley,  and  Benjamin  Edge. 

By  reference  to  23rd  page,  it  will  be  seen  that  Caleb 
W.  Cloud  and  Thomas  Lasley  were  both  elected  and 
ordained  to  the  office  of  Deacon,  the  first  year  of  their 
probation,  in  consequence  of  their  Mission  to  Natchez, 
the  Conference  haveing  received  information  respecting 
their  moral  charrecter,  think  proper  to  receive  them 
both  into  full  Connection. 

William  Thompson,  who  had  been  a  Local  Deacon 
for  several  years  before  he  travilled,  after  travilling  out 
his  probation,  the  Conference  judged  it  proper,  to  elect 
him  to  the  office  of  an  Elder,  and  from  the  particular 
situation  of  his  familey  concerns,  he  thought  proper 
to  apply  for  a  Location;  Resolved,  that  a  Location  be 
granted. 

William  Carrico  and  James  Hobbs,  local  preachers, 
came  properly  recommended,  and  were  ordained  to 
the  office  of  Deacons.  On  motion,  made  by  William 
McKendree,  that  a  funeral  sermon  be  preach'd  to  the 
Western  Annual  Conference,  on  the  Death  of  the  Late 
Revd.  Richard  Whatcoat;  Resolved,  that  Francis  As- 
bury  be  appointed  to  preach  the  same. 

Joshua  Riggin,  haveing  road  out  his  probation,  stands 
accused  by  John  Whitaker  of  haveing  acted  contrary 
to  the  charecter  of  a  Minester  and  a  Christian,  in  a 
case  between  said  Riggin  and  said  Whitaker's  daughter 
Nancy.  Said  J.  Whitaker,  states  by  letter  that  J.  Rig- 
gin promised  his  daughter  Nancy  marriage,  but  failed 
to  comply  with  his  promise,  and  said  J.  Whitaker, 
failing  to  produce  the  necessary  documents,  the  Con- 
ference did  not  determine  against  said  J.  Riggin.  Mo- 


112  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

tion,  Shall  J.  Riggin  be  admitted  into  full  Connection? 
Not  agreed.  Motion,  Shall  J.  Riggin  remain  on  trial? 
Not  agreed.  Motion,  Shall  J.  Riggin  be  readmitted  on 
Trial?  Not  agreed.  The  reason  why  Joshua  Riggin 
is  rejected  from  the  travilling  connection,  is  that  the 
Conference  judge  he  wants  preaching  abilities. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  William  McKendree, 
Thomas  Wilkerson,  and  William  Burk,  be  appointed 
a  Committee  of  business  and  address. 

Tuesday,  2nd  Day  op  Conference. 

William  Hitt's  charecter  examined  before  the  Confer- 
ence, and  he  continued  on  trial.  Moses  Black  applied 
to  the  Conference  for  a  Location.  Resolved,  that  the 
Location  be  granted  him. 

The  President  proceeded  to  read  the  letter  from  the 
South  Carolina  Conference,  to  the  other  Six  Annual 
Conferences.  Thomas  Wilkerson,  by  the  president's  di- 
rection, proceeded  to  read  to  the  Conference,  Doctor 
Coke's  circular  letter  to  the  American  Conferences. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  this  Conference  take  up 
the  Doctor's  circular  letter,  and  answer  the  same. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  the  several 
letters  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conferences  of  Cum- 
berland Destrict;  addressed  to  the  Annual  Conference. 

Thomas  Wilkerson  proceeded,  by  the  direction  of  the 
President,  to  read  the  letters  from  Natchez  Mission. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  on  trial  those 
that  came  recommended. 

1st.  James  King  came  recommend  from  the  circuit 
in  which  he  road  when  imployed  by  Bro.  Th.  Wilkerson, 
in  the  interval  of  the  Annual  Conference,  but  the  Con- 
ference require  that  a  recommendation  be  produced  to 
the  next  Annual  Conference,  from  the  circuit  in  which 
he  lived.  A  compliance  to  the  above  being  agreed  to, 
he  was  admitted  on  trial. 

2nd.  Milton  Ladd,  who  came  properly  recommended 


The  Journal  for  1806. 


113 


from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Clinch  Cir- 
cuit. A  native  of  North  Carolina,  born  August  the 
11th,  1789,  the  Conference  agree  that  he  be  admitted  on 
trial. 

3rd.  Hector  Sandford  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Scioto  Cir- 
cuit, likewise  a  strong  recommendation  by  letter  from 
Edward  Tiffin  Esq.;  the  Conference  agree  that  he  be 
admitted  on  trial. 

4th.  Fredrick  Hood  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Hockhocking  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference,  for- 
merly a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
Baltimore  Circuit,  and  came  recommended,  as  a  mem- 
ber, to  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  Conference  agree  that  he 
be  admitted  on  trial. 

5th.  John  Tarver,  whose  recommendation  came  in 
proper  form  from  the  Wilkinson  Circuit,  signed  in 
behalf  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  said  Circuit,  in 
the  Mississippi  Destrict.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Con- 
ference, that  he  may  be  admitted  on  trial. 

6th.  Abbott  Goddard  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Limestone  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference,  the 
Conference  agree  that  he  be  admitted  on  trial. 

7th.  Hezekiah  Shaw,  formerly  a  licensed  Local 
preacher  in  Jersey,  and  came  recommended  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  imployed  by  the  presiding  elder 
for  9  months,  3  in  Danville  and  six  in  Salt-river  and 
Shelby,  Circuits;  from  the  latter  he  obtained  a  proper 
recommendation.  The  Conference  concur  that  he  be 
admitted  on  trial. 

8th.  John  Collins  came  recommended,  but  not  in  an 
orderly  way,  the  Conference  require  that  a  proper  rec- 
ommendation be  procured  against  the  next  Annual  Con- 
ference. Bro.  J.  Collins  is  a  Local  Preacher,  in  Dea- 
con's orders,  on  the  Miami  Circuit.  A  compliance  with 
the  above  being  agreed  to,  he  was  admitted  on  trial. 
8 


114  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

9th.  John  Travis  came  properly  recommended  from 
Ellenoies  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference.  The  Confer- 
ence judge  proper  to  admit  him  on  trial. 

10th.  Benjamin  Wofford  came  from  South  Carolina, 
as  a  licensed  local  preacher,  into  the  bounds  of  the 
Western  Annual  Conference,  and  was  imployed  by  the 
presiding  elder  of  Cumberland  Destrict,  to  ride  Hart- 
ford Circuit,  and  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ence of  said  circuit  obtained  a  proper  recommendation. 
The  Annual  Conference  think  proper  to  admit  him  on 
trial,  upon  condition  that  he  provide,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  for  the  emancipation  of  his  two  slaves,  now  in 
South  Carolina. 

11th.  John  Crane  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Nashville  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference.  The  Con- 
ference agree  that  he  be  admitted  on  trial. 

12th.  Joseph  Bennett  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Scioto  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference.  The 
Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  may  be  admitted  on 
trial. 

James  Quinn  applied  to  the  Conference,  by  letter, 
for  a  Location.   Resolved,  that  a  Location  be  given  him. 

Louther  Taylor  applied  to  the  Conference,  by  letter, 
for  a  dispensation  for  six  months;  but  the  Conference 
are  of  opinion,  that  it  would  be  more  proper  to  give 
him  a  location,  And  if  he  should  come  forward,  to  any 
Annual  Conference,  in  the  course  of  the  present  year, 
he  may  be  imployed.  Resolved,  that  instead  of  a  dis- 
pensation, he  receive  a  Location. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  ordain,  to  the  office  of 
Deacons,  William  Ellington,  Samuel  Parker,  Joshua 
Oglesby,  William  Houston,  Richard  Browning,  Peter 
Cartwright,  Joseph  Williams,  Miles  Harper,  James 
Axley,  and  Benjamin  Edge. 

Motion  by  William  McKendree,  that  a  Committee  be 
a] (pointed,  in  a  case  of  delicacy,  and  that  the  Confer- 


The  Journal  for  1806. 


115 


ence  iinpower  thein  to  settle  the  same  without  further 
inquiry. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  William  McKendree, 
Thomas  Walker,  and  William  Burk,  be  and  are  ap- 
pointed the  said  Committee. 

Wednesday,  3rd  Day  op  Conference. 

Three  places  were  proposed  for  the  sitting  of  the 
next  Annual  Conference  (i.e.)  Liberty,  Flemingsbourgh, 
and  Chillecothe. 

The  following  probationers'  charrecters  were  exam- 
ined before  the  Conference,  and  their  probation  con- 
tinued : 

George  C.  Light,  some  little  imprudence  stated 
against  him  respecting  his  manner  of  executing  dicip- 
line.  Zadok  B.  Thackston,  Thomas  Heliums,  John 
Thompson,  Samuel  Sellers,  David  Young,  Moses  Ash- 
worth,  William  Vermillion. 

Henry  Fisher's  Letter  was  read  before  the  Confer- 
ence, and  from  his  inabillity,  the  Conference  judge  he 
cannot  fill  a  station  this  year.  It  is  therefore  the 
opinion  of  the  Conference,  that  the  Committee  write 
him  a  fiew  lines. 

Motion  by  William  McKendree,  that  the  case  of  Ben- 
jamin Young  be  considered,  and  that  the  Conference 
give  their  judgment  in  regard  to  his  situation.  On 
motion,  Resolved,  that  the  assistant  preacher  shall  have 
authority  to  put  Benjamin  Young  in  possession  of  his 
credentials;  but  if  the  preacher  think  he  should  not 
have  them,  he  may  detain  them  until  the  presiding  Eld- 
er visit  the  Quarterly  Meeting. 

Jacob  Young's  and  Ralph  Lotspeich's  charrecters 
examined  before  the  Conference,  and  after  examination, 
the  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  them  to  the  office  of 
Elders. 

Jonathan  Jackson  applied  to  the  Conference,  by  let- 


11 G  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

ter,  for  a  location.  Resolved,  -that  a  location  be  given 
him. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  vote  by  ballot  for  the 
seat  of  the  next  Annual  Conference.  On  examining 
the  votes,  it  was  found  that  a  majority  was  in  favor  of 
Flemingsbourgh.  On  motion,  Resolved,  that  the  next 
Annual  Conference  commence  at  Flemingsbourgh  on 
the  5th  day  of  October,  1807. 

Motion  by  Bishop  Asbury,  that  a  letter  be  written 
to  Jonathan  Jackson,  informing  him,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  his  not  spending  his  time  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Western  Conference,  they  judge  it  unnecessary  to 
send  him  any  supply. 

Thomas  Wilkerson  proceeded  to  read  Doctor  Coke's 
circular  letter  a  second  time. 

William  Burk,  by  the  direction  of  the  President,  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the  several  letters  from  the  Baltimore, 
Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  New  England  Confer- 
ences, being  their  answer  to  Dr.  Coke's  circular  letter. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  the  answer  of 
the  Western  Annual  Conference  to  Dr.  Coke's  circular 
letter.  The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  the  answer 
to  Doctor  Coke's  circular  letter,  paragraph  by  para- 
graph. Resolved,  that  the  letter,  as  received  by  the 
Conference,  be  sent  to  Doctor  Coke.  Resolved,  that  a 
coppy  be  likewise  sent  to  the  South  Carolina  and  suc- 
ceeding Conferences. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  this  Conference  recommend 
the  publication  of  Howese's  Church  History. 

Thirsday,  4th  Day  op  Conference. 

Thomas  Wilkerson  proceeded  to  read  the  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Jonathan  Jackson.  Resolved,  that  the  let- 
ter be  sent  as  received  by  the  Conference. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  one  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Jonathan  Jackson.    Resolved,  that  the  let- 


The  Journal  for  180G. 


117 


ter  be  sent  as  received  by  the  Conference.  William 
McKendree  proceeded  to  read  one  letter  addressed  to 
Benjamin  Wofford,  on  the  business  of  his  two  Negroes 
in  South  Carolina,  and  advise'es  him  to  measuer's;  thay 
may  secure  there  emancipation;  and  another  to  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Nashville  Circuit,  di- 
recting them  to  appropriate  the  moneys  ariseing  from 
the  sale  of  the  Meeting  House  in  Nashville,  as  they 
may  judge  proper.  Resolved,  that  the  letters  be  sent, 
&c. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  read  the  letter  addressed 
from  the  New  York  to  the  New  England  and  succeed- 
ing Conferences,  respecting  the  propriety  of  deligateing 
a  Conference,  to  meet  in  Baltimore,  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1807,  consisting  of  seven  members  from  each  Annual 
Conference,  for  the  express  purpose  of  electing  a  Su- 
perintendent or  Superintendents  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  America. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  adopt  the  method  of 
the  New  York  Conference.  Resolved,  by  a  unanimous 
vote,  that  a  deligation  shall  take  place.  The  Confer- 
ence proceeded  to  elect  by  ballot  the  following  mem- 
bers, William  McKendree,  Thomas  Wilkerson,  John 
Sale,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Thomas  Milligan,  Jacob  Young, 
and  William  Burk. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  a  draft  be  made  on  the 
Chartered  Fund  for  $180. 

The  Bishop  proceeded  to  examine  the  charecters  of 
the  preachers,  one  by  one.  Nothing  immorral  stated 
against  any  of  the  members. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  a  draft  be  made  on  the 
Book  Fund,  in  favour  of  the  Conference,  for  $300.  The 
drafts  on  the  Book  and  Chartered  Funds,  in  favour  of 
the  Conference,  are  answered  as  follows:  William  Mc- 
Kendree, $86;  Thomas  Wilkerson,  $197;  William  Burk, 
$197. 


118 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Motion  by  William  McKendree,  and  seconded  by 
William  Burk,  that  the  Conference  reconsider  their 
vote  respecting  the  time  and  place  of  the  sitting  of  the 
next  Annual  Conference.  Resolved,  that  the  subject  be 
reconsidered. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  the  next  Annual  Confer- 
ence be  at  Chillecothe,  State  of  Ohio,  on  the  15th  day 
of  September,  1807. 

It  is  motioned,  that  the  Conference  vote  by  ballot, 
for  two  more  Electors;  for  the  deligated  Conference, 
to  be  in  Baltimore,  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1807.  That 
if  in  consequence  any  of  the  other  seven  should  fail, 
they  may  be  in  readiness  to  fill  their  place,  or  places. 

Resolved,  that  George  Askin  and  Jesse  Walker  be, 
and  are  hereby,  accordingly  elected. 

The  Committee  of  Business  reported,  and  the  Confer- 
ence agree  to  the  settlement  of  said  Committee. 


Report  of  the  Committee  of  Business. 


Holston  Destrict  

Cumberland  Destrict,  

Kentucky  Destrict,   

Ohio  Destrict,  

Draft  on  the  Chartered  Fund, 
Draft  on  the  Book  Fund,  


$  00  00 

12  20 

27  00 

64  27 

180  00 

300  00 


583  47 


Deficen- 
cies. 


Propor- 
tion. 


Thomas  Wilkerson, 
Thomas  Milligan,  . . 
Ralph  Lotspiech,  . . . 
Anthony  Houston,  = 

John  McClure,,  

Joseph  Williams,  . . . 
George  C.  Light,  . . . 
William  Vermillion, 
William  McKendree, 

Jesse  Walker,  

William  Ellington,  . 

Joshua  Oglesby,  

William  Houston,  . . 


$  19  00 

11  34 

14  00 

9  00 

29  47 

18  91 

21  50 

31  31 

51  52 

65  80 

54  00 

31  62 

17  64 


$    8  00 

00  00 

2  50 

00  00 

17  97 

7  41 

10  00 

19  81 
40  00 
43  80 
42  50 

20  12 
6  14 


375  11 


218  25 


The  Journal  for  1806. 


119 


Brought  Over  

Benjamin  Edge,  

David  Young  

George  Askin  

William  Thompson, 

Adjit  McGuier,  

Richard  Browning  . 
Benjamin  Lakin,  . . . 
Louther  Taylor,  . . . 
Joseph  Oglesby, 
Abraham  Amos,  . . . 

Henry  Fisher,  

Francis  Asbury,  . . . 


Ballence,   

For  charitable  purposes. 

Preachers  Collection,.... 

Publick  Collection,   

Ballence  brought  Down,. 


Deficen- 

Propor- 

cies. 

tion. 

$375  11 

$218  25 

24  00 

12  50 

54  00 

42  50 

62  71 

40  71 

83  45 

61  45 

15  42 

3  92 

23  15 

11  65 

53  30 

31  30 

54  00 

42  50 

58  25 

46  75 

38  81 

27  31 

12  00 

12  00 

24  00 

24  00 

878  20 

574  74 

583  47 

8  73 

Distributed. 


$32  91 
12  21 
8  73 


$53  85 


Conference,   

Milton  Ladd,   

Jesse  Walker,   

Moses  Lawrence,   

William  Thompson,  . . . 
William  Burk,  


Lost  in  Count, 
Friday,  the  5th  Day  of  Conference. 


$  4  95 
5  00 
14  50 
3  00 
14  50 
10  00 


51  95 
53  85 


1  90 


On  motion,  Kesolved,  that  the  Conference  will  do  the 
best  they  can  to  keep  the  Circuits  well  supplied  during 
the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Conferences,  and  that  the 
Preachers  and  Presiding  Elders  do  exert  themselves  to 
accomplish  the  same. 

A  collection  made  in  Conference,  among  the  preach- 
ers for  charitable  purposes,  $32.91. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  raise  a  fund  by  Sub- 
scription, for  the  use  and  benefit  of  Bethel  Academy,  in 
Kentucky. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  Jacob  Young, 
Samuel  Parker,  and  William  Houston,  as  trustees  of 


120  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

the  said  fund;  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  to  keep  regular 
books,  for  the  purpose  of  entering  Subscriptions,  and 
keeping  all  the  accounts  of  said  fund. 

The  Conference  raised  by  voluntary  subscription  for 
the  above  use,  $67.50. 

Saturday,  6th  Day  of  Conference. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  examine  David  Young, 
before  the  Conference. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  the  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Doctor  Coke,  a  second  time.  The  Conference 
are  of  opinion  that  no  alteration  is  necessary. 

The  Conference  judge  it  proper  to  recommend  the 
printing  of  Fletcher's  Vindication  of  the  Catholic  Faith, 
and  recommend  the  same  to  the  South  Carolina  and 
succeeding  Conferences. 

Motion,  How  shall  the  deligates  to  the  Jubilee  Con- 
ference be  provided  for,  so  as  to  be  reimburs'd  in 
their  expenses?  Kesolved,  that  the  deligates  shall  keep 
a  particular  account  of  their  expenses,  and  of  all  mon- 
eys received  by  collection  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
said  Conference;  and  the  next  Western  Annual  Confer- 
ence shall  adjust  the  business,  as  they  shall  think  proper. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  ordain  to  the  office  of 
Elders,  Jacob  Young,  William  Thompson,  and  Kalph 
Lotspiech. 

Motion,  Shall  the  Sixth  Question  in  the  Minutes  of 
the  Annual  Conference  be,  Who  are  the  Superintend- 
ents and  Bishops? 

Besolved,  that  the  alteration,  of  the  Sixth  Question, 
in  the  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Conference,  take  place  as 
stated  in  the  above  motion. 

Adjourned  to  meet  at  Chillecothe,  State  of  Ohio,  on 
September  the  15th,  1807. 

Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 

William  Burk,  Secretary.  Francis  Asbury. 


The  Journal  for  1806. 


121 


Note  7. — Of  this  Conference,  Bishop  Asbury  states:  "Saturday 
19,  the  Western  Conference  commenced  its  sitting,  and  ended  on 
Monday."  This  date  does  not  agree  with  that  of  the  Journal  of 
the  Conference,  which  is  September  15.  Further  Bishop  Asbury 
says:  "The  Mississippi  missionary  preachers  could  not  be  spared, 
they  thought,  from  their  work,  and  therefore  did  not  come.  We 
had  great  peace.  There  are  fourteen  hundred  added  within  the 
bounds  of  this  conference.  Of  the  fifty-five  preachers  stationed, 
all  were  pleased.  In  unison  with  the  preceding  conferences,  an 
answer  was  given  to  Dr.  Coke's  letter.  We  had  preaching  at 
noon  and  night,  and  good  was  done.  The  brethren  were  In  want, 
and  could  not  suit  themselves;  so  I  parted  with  my  watch,  my 
coat,  and  my  shirt.  By  order  of  the  conference,  I  preached  a 
funeral  discourse  on  the  death  of  our  dear  friend  Whatcoat,  from 
John  i.  47-50;  there  were  not  far  from  two  thousand  people 
present.  If  good  were  done,  which  I  trust  and  hope,  it  is  some 
compensation  for  my  sufferings — thirteen  hundred  miles  in  heat 
and  sickness  on  the  road;  and  in  the  house,  restless  hours,  the 
noise  of  barking  dogs,  impatient  children,  and  people  trotting 
about,  and  opening  and  shutting  doors  at  all  hours."  ( Asbury 's 
Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  206.) 

The  appointments  for  1806  are  given  in  the  General  Minutes  as 
follows: 

Holston  District.    Thomas  Wilkerson,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Ralph  Lotspeich,  John  Crane. 

Nollichuckie,  William  Houston. 

French  Broad,  James  Axley. 

New-River,  Thomas  Milligan. 

Clinch,  Richard  Browning,  George  C.  Light. 

Powell's  Valley,  John  McClure. 

Carter's  Valley,  Joshua  Oglesby. 

West  Point,  to  be  supplied. 

Cumberland  District.   William  McKendree,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Jacob  Young,  Hezekiah  Shaw. 

Red  River,  Zadok  B.  Thackston. 

Roaring  River,  Miles  Harper. 

Wayne,  Moses  Ash  worth. 

Livingston,  David  Young. 

Hartford,  Benjamin  Edge,  Samuel  Sellers. 

Illinois,  Jesse  Walker. 

Missourie,  John  Travis. 


122 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Mississippi  District.    Learner  Blackman,  P.  Elder. 
Natchez,  Caleb  W.  Cloud. 
Wilkinson,  William  Pattison. 
Claiborne,  Nathan  Barnes,  John  Traver. 
Ochitta,  Thomas  Lasley. 
Appalousas,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 

Kentucky  District.    William  Burke,  p.  Elder. 

Licking,  Abraham  Amos. 

Limestone,  Samuel  Parker,  Hector  Sanford. 

Lexington,  James  Ward,  George  Askin. 

Hinkstone,  Joseph  Williams,  Jn.  Thompson. 

Danville,  William  Hitt,  Joseph  Bennett. 

Salt  River,  Frederick  Hood. 

Shelby,  Joseph  Oglesby. 

Ohio  District.   John  Sale,  p.  Elder. 

Miami,  Benjamin  Lakin,  John  Collins. 
Mad  River,  Adjet  McGuire,  Isaac  Quinn. 
Scioto,  Anthony  Houston,  Milton  Ladd. 
Hockhockin,  Joseph  Hays,  James  King. 
Muskingum,  Peter  Cartwright. 
Little  Kanawha,  William  Virmillion. 
Guyandott,  John  Clingan. 
White  River,1  Thomas  Heliums,  Sela  Paine. 
Licking,  William  Ellington. 


xThe  White  River  Circuit  should  read  "Whitewater,"  a  circuit 
in  Southeastern  Indiana. 


VIII. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
BEGUN  AND  HELD  AT  CHILLECOTHE,  OHIO  STATE, 
SEPTEMBER  UTH,  1807* 

First  Day  op  Conference. 

members!  of'  conference. 
Those  marked  thus  *  are  absent. 


Francis  A&bury, 

Miles  Harper,* 

William  MjcKendree, 

James  Axley, 

William  Burk, 

Thomas  Lasley,* 

Thomas  Wilkerson,* 

1     1        TIT        /-"<1  1 

Caleb  W.  Cloud, 

John  Sale, 

Benjamin  Edge, 

Lawner  Blackman,* 

John  Meek,* 

Thomas  Milligan, 

John  McClure, 

James  Ward, 

Nathan  Barnes,* 

Benjamin  Lakin, 

Anthony  Houston, 

Elisha  W.  Bowman,* 

Joseph  Oglesby, 

George  Askin, 

Adjet  McGuier, 

Jesse  Walker,* 

All  A 

Abraham  Amos. 

William  Pattison, 

Admitted  into  full  Connec- 

Ralph Lotspiech, 

tion, 

Jacob  Young, 

George  C.  Light, 

Joseph  Hays, 

Zadock  B.  Thackston, 

William  Ellington, 

Thomas  Heliums, 

Samuel  Parker, 

Samuel  Sellers, 

Joshua  Oglesby, 

David  Young,* 

William  |Houston, 

Moses  Ashworth, 

Richard  Browning,* 

William  Virmillion, 

Peter  Oartwright, 

Solomon  Langdon. 

Joseph  Williams, 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine,  admit  into 
Connection,  and  elect  to  the  office  of  Deacons  those 
who  were  eligible. 

1st.  George  C.  Light's  character  examined  before  the 
Conference,  and  they  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admit- 


124  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

ted  into  full  Connection,  and  elected  to  the  office  of  a 
]  >eacon. 

2nd.  Zadock  B.  Thackston's  character  examined,  and 
he  (was)  admitted  into  connection,  haveing  travilled 
two  years  before  admitted  on  trial  and  when  admitted 
ordained  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon,  the  Conference  are 
of  opinion  that  he  be  elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder, 
and  they  accordingly  elect  him. 

3rd.  Thomas  Heliums,  examined  and  admitted  into 
full  Connection  after  haveing  travilled  upwards  of  two 
years,  the  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  him  to  the 
office  of  a  Deacon. 

4th.  The  case  of  John  Thompson  came  before  the  Con- 
ference. It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference,  as  he  de- 
clines travilling  and  nothing  immoral  appearing  against 
him,  the  Conference  Resolve  that  he  be  dismissed. 

5th.  Samuel  Seller's  character  examined  into  and 
the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admitted  into 
full  Connection,  and  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Gth.  David  Young's  character  examined  and  the  Con- 
ference are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admitted  into  full 
Connection  and  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

7th.  Moses  Ashworth's  character  examined  and  the 
Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admitted  into  full 
Connection  and  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

8th.  William  Virmillion's  character  examined  into 
and  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admitted 
into  full  Connection,  and  also  elected  to  the  office  of  a 
Deacon. 

9th.  William  Hitt's  character  examined  into,  Nothing 
immorral  appearing  against  him,  and  as  he  sense; 
travilling  at  the  expiration  of  his  probation,  the  Con- 
ference are  of  opinion  that  he  (be)  elected  to  the  office 
of  a  Deacon. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  that  a  Committe  of  Business 
and  Address  be  appointed. 


The  Journal  for  1807. 


125 


The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  by  ballot  the  Com- 
mittee of  Business  and  Address  (i.e.)  William  McKen- 
dree,  John  Sale,  James  Ward,  and  William  Burk. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  and  examine  the 
recommendations  of  those  proposed  to  be  admitted  on 
Trial. 

Hols  ton  Destrict. 

1st.  John  Heniger  came  properly  recommend  by  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Holston  Circuit,  and 
was  admitted  on  Trial. 

Cumberland  Destrict. 

1st.  John  Cragg  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Nashville  Circuit, 
and  was  admitted  on  Trial. 

2nd.  William  Lewis  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Ked  River  Cir- 
cuit, and  was  admitted  on  Trial. 

3rd.  Thomas  Kirkman  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Levingston 
Circuit,  who  has  been  travilling  six  months,  and  is 
spoken  of  as  a  zelious  young  man  the  Conference 
thought  proper  to  receive  him  on  Trial. 

4th.  Edmond  Wilcox  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Wayn  Cir- 
cuit, after  haveing  travilled  part  one  year  in  Leving- 
ston and  one  year  in  Wayn ;  the  Conference  think  proper 
to  admit  him  on  Trial. 

5th.  Jedidiah  McMin  came  properly  Recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Roaring  Riv- 
er Circuit,  the  Conference  think  proper  to  admit  him 
on  Trial. 

Ohio  Destrict. 

1st.  Jacob  Turman  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Mad  River  Cir- 


126  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

cuit;  he  is  said  to  be  about  21  years  and  9  months  old, 
he  has  travilled  6  months.  The  Conference  admit  him 
on  Trial. 

2nd.  William  Mitchel  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Licking  Cir- 
cuit. He  was  a  fieu  years  past  recommended  to  the 
Philadelphia  Annual  Conference  and  rejected,  but  the 
Western  Annual  Conference  think  proper,  after  meture 
consideration,  to  admit  him  on  Trial. 

3rd.  James  Blair  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Scioto  Circuit, 
but  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  owing  to  his 
instability  and  frequent  backslidings,  and  haveing  but 
lately  been  restored  to  morality  and  the  Church,  they 
judge  it  improper  to  admit  him  on  Trial. 

4th.  Francis  McCormack  came  properly  recommend- 
ed from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Miami 
Circuit,  but  owing  to  the  peculiar  situation  of  his  fam- 
ily and  his  not  being  situated  to  travil  any  other  cir- 
cuit than  the  one  he  lives  in,  the  Conference  judge  it 
improper  to  admit  him  on  Trial. 

Kentucky  Destrict. 

1st.  Josiah  Crawford  came  properly  recommend  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Limestone  Cir- 
cuit; he  is  said  to  be  about  40  years  old;  the  Confer- 
ence think  proper  to  admit  him  on  Trial. 

2nd.  Thomas  Stitwell  came  properly  recommended 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Shelby  Cir- 
cuit; he  is  said  to  be  about  23  years  of  age,  he  has 
travilled  nearly  a  year;  the  Conference  think  proper  to 
admit  him  on  Trial. 

3rd.  Mynus  Layton  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Licking  Circuit; 
he  is  said  to  be  about  22  years  of  age;  the  Conference 
are  of  (opinion)  that  he  be  admitted  on  Trial. 


The  Journal  for  1807. 


127 


4th.  Henry  Mallery  came  properly  recommended  from 
the  Quarterly  Meeting-  Conference  of  Hinkston  Circuit; 
he  is  judged  to  be  about  50  years  of  age;  the  Confer- 
ence think  proper  to  receive  him  on  Trial. 

Tuesday,  Second  Day  op  Conference. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  the  account  of 
the  Preachers'  Deficiencies  for  the  last  year  and  re- 
vered the  same  to  the  Committe  of  Business. 

William  Burk  proceeded  to  read  to  the  Conference 
the  resolutions  from  the  several  Circuits  in  the  Ken- 
tucky Destrict  respecting  the  sallery  of  those  preachers 
who  marry  in  the  intervail  of  the  Annual  Conference. 

The  Conference  Resolve  that  the  Committe  of  Busi- 
ness shall  not  allow  those  preachers  who  marry  in  the 
intervail  of  the  Annual  Conference  double  quarteradge. 

Daniel  Hitt  proceeded  to  read  Dctr.  Coke's  Letter 
addressed  to  the  Annual  Conference,  in  answer  to  the 
letter  sent  to  him  from  the  last  Annual  Conference. 

Daniel  Hitt;  proceeded  to  read  the  several  cirtiiicates 
given  by  Doctr.  Coke  to  the  American  Connection. 

The  Conference  Resolve  that  the  cirtificates  be  en- 
tered on  the  Journals.   They  are  as  follows: 

I  do  solemly  engage  by  this  instrement  that  I  never  will  by 
virtue  of  my  office  as  Superintendent  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America  Exercise  any  government  what- 
ever, in  the  Said  Methodist  Church  during  my  absence  from  the 
United  States,  and  I  do  also  engage  that  I  will  exercise  no  prive- 
ledge  in  the  Said  Church  when  present  in  the  United  States,  Ex- 
cept that  of  ordaining  according  to  the  Regulations  and  Laws 
already  Existing  or  hereafter  to  be  made  in  the  Said  Church, 
and  that  of  presiding  when  present  in  Conference  and  lastly  that 
of  travilling  at  large.  Given  under  my  hand  the  Second  Day  of 
May  in  the  Year  1787.  Thomas  Coke. 

Witnesses:  John  Tunnel, 
John  Hagerty, 
Nelson  Reed. 

Q.  If  Mr.  Asbury  dies  or  declines  exercising  the  office  of  a 


128 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Superintendent,  what  Shall  be  done  in  respect  to  the  peculiar 
parts  of  Government  Exercised  by  Mr.  Asbury  alone? 

A.  Those  peculiar  powers  of  Government  Shall  Revert  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  into  the  hands  of  the  Conference,  and  they 
Shall  have  full  authority  to  invest  those  powers  in  the  hands  of 
any  person  or  persons,  they  may  think  proper;  and  the  Superin- 
tendant  or  Superintendants  then  in  being  Shall  have  no  Naga- 
tive  voice  in  Respect  to  the  above  Nomination,  but  if  Absolutely 
Necessary  the  Elders  Shall  Consecrate  the  person  thus  Elected 
and  Nominated  by  the  Conference,  any  Minute  Hitherto  passed 
Notwithstanding.  Thomas  Coke. 

I  offer  my  Self  to  my  American  brethren  entirely  to  there 
Service  all  I  am  and  have,  with  my  tallents  and  Labours  in  ev- 
ery respect,  without  any  Mental  Reservation  whatever,  To  labour 
among  them,  and  to  assist  Bishop  Asbury,  Not  to  Station  the 
preachers  at  any  time  where  he  is  present,  but  To  Exercise  all 
the  Episcopal  duties  when  I  hold  a  Conference  in  his  absence 
and  with  his  Consent,  and  to  visit  the  West  Indies  and  France 
when  their  is  an  opening,  and  I  can  be  Spared.  T.  Coke. 

Conference  Room,  Baltimore,  October  27th,  1796. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  ordain  to  the  office  of 
Deacons  the  following  persons  to  wit:  George  C.  Light, 
Thomas  Heliums,  Samuel  Sellers,  Moses  Ashworth, 
William  Virmillion,  and  William  Hitt.  Local  Preach- 
ers ordained,  Henry  Mallery  and  James  Ward. 

The  Conference  Resolve  that  the  Committee  of  Ad- 
dress express  the  Sentiments  of  this  Conference  Re- 
specting the  Doctor's  letter  sent  in  answer  to  the  New 
York  Conference,  in  a  letter  to  be  entered  on  the  Jour- 
nals. 

Solomon  Langdon,  who  formerly  was  a  regular  mem- 
ber of  the  New  England  Annual  Conference,  and  ob- 
tained a  regular  location  Haveing  moved  into  the 
bounds  of  the  Western  Conference,  came  forward  to 
this  Conference  and  by  the  vote  of  the  Conference  he  is 
priviledged  to  take  his  seat  as  a  regular  member. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  vote  a  Draft  ou  the 
Chartered  Fund  For  $190. 


The  Journal  for  1801. 


129 


The  Conference  proceeded  to  vote  a  Draft  on  the 
Book  Concern  For  |300. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  read  the  several  letters 
from  the  Mississippi  Destrict  (i.e.)  2  From  Lawner 
Blackman,  Elisha  Bowman,  Thomas  Lasley,  and  Nathan 
Barnes. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  read  to  the  Conference 
a  letter  from  Thomas  Wilkerson,  Holston  Destrict. 

The  several  places  purposed  for  the  sitting  of  the 
next  Western  Annual  Conference,  are  as  follows:  Lib- 
erty, Cumberland  Destrict;  Flemingsbourgh  and  Salem, 
Kentucky  Destrict;  Cincinnatti  and  Chillecothe,  Ohio 
Destrict. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
characters  of  those  eligible,  and  to  elect  them  to  the 
office  of  Elders. 

Mississippi  Destrict. 

1st.  The  character  of  Nathan  Barnes  examined  and 
it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference  that  he  be  elected 
to  the  office  of  an  Elder,  but  being  absent  his  ordina- 
tion is  not  performed. 

2nd.  Thomas  Lasley's  character  examined  and  ap- 
proved, and  he  elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder,  but  be- 
ing absent  his  ordination  is  not  performed. 

3rd.  Caleb  W.  Cloud's  character  examined  and  ap- 
proved, the  Conference  judge  proper  to  elect  him  to  the 
office  of  an  Elder. 

Kentucky  Destrict. 

1st.  The  character  of  Joseph  Oglesby  examined  and 
approved,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference  that  he  be 
elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder. 

2nd.  The  charrecter  of  Abraham  Amos  examined  and 
approved,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be 
elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder. 
9 


130  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Holston  Destrict. 
1st.   John   McClure's   character  examined   and  ap- 
proved, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  elected 
to  the  office  of  an  Elder. 

Ohio  Destrict. 

1st.  The  character  of  Adjet  McGuier  examined,  and 
it  appearing  to  the  Conference  that  some  deficulties 
exist  between  him  and  John  Sale,  the  Conference  are 
of  oppinion  that  the  case  be  refered  to  a  Committe  for 
decision,  and  that  the  parties  be  allowed  to  have  the 
men  of  their  choise.  John  Sale  chose  William  McKen- 
dree;  Adjet  McGuier,  James  Ward;  and  they  chose 
Thomas  Milligan.  The  Committe  report  to  the  Con- 
ference, that  the  deficulties  are  so  adjusted  as  to  admit 
of  his  election,  and  they  accordingly  elect  him  to  the 
office  of  an  Elder. 

2nd.  Anthony  Houston's  character  examined  before 
the  Conference,  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  A. 
Houston  had  acted  somewhat  imprudently  by  convers- 
ing with  a  young  woman.  Nothing  criminal  is  stated 
against  him,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  may 
be  elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder. 

The  characters  of  those  graduateing  to  the  Elder's 
office  examined  before  the  Conference,  William  Elling- 
ton, Samuel  Parker,  Joshua  Oglesby,  William  Houston, 
Eichard  Browning,  Peter  Cartwright,  Joseph  Williams, 
Miles  Harper,  James  Axley,  Benjamin  Edge.  They  are 
all  approved  and  continued. 

The  case  of  John  Meek  came  before  the  Conference, 
and  after  meture  deliberation  the  Conference  think 
proper  to  grant  him  a  Location. 

Resolved  that  he  obtain  said  Location. 

Third  Day  op  Conference. 
The  character  of  those  Graduating  to  the  office  of 
Decans  examined  before  the  Conference,  James  King, 


The  Journal  for  1807. 


131 


Milton  Ladd,  Hector  Sandford,  Fredrick  Hood,  Abbott 
Goddard,  Hezekiah  Shaw,  John  Collins,  John  Travice, 
John  Crane,  Joseph  Bennett,  Sela  Paine,  Isaac  Quinn, 
and  John  Clingin,  they  are  all  approved  and  remain 
on  Trial. 

1st.  Thomas  Wilkerson  applied  to  the  Conference  by- 
letter  for  a  location.  The  Conference  after  hearing 
the  contents  of  his  letter  and  taking  his  case  into  con- 
sideration, Resolve  that  he  obtain  said  Location. 

2nd.  Joshua  Oglesby  being  present,  applied  to  the 
Conference  for  a  Location,  the  Conference  voted  him 
said  Location. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  read  to  the  Conference 
the  Memorial  of  the  New  York  Annual  Conference  Ad- 
dressed to  the  New  England  and  Succeeding  Confer- 
ences. 

The  Conference  unanimously  voted  to  concur  with  the 
New  York  Conference  in  the  subject  of  their  Memorial 
Addressed  to  the  New  England  and  Succeeding  Con- 
ferences. 

Motioned  that  the  Conference  proceed  to  elect  7  mem- 
bers out  of  this  Conference  as  deligates  to  represent 
them  in  the  next  General  Conference. 

Resolved  that  the  number  of  7  be  elected  as  Electors 
to  represent  us  in  the  next  General  Conference. 

The  Bishop  proceeded  to  examine  before  the  Confer- 
ence the  character  of  all  the  Elders. 

The  Bishop  proceeded  to  ordain  to  the  office  of  Eld- 
ers the  following  persons:  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  John  Mc- 
Clure,  Joseph  Oglesby,  Zadock  B.  Thackston,  Abraham 
Amos,  Adjet  McGuier,  and  Anthony  Houston. 

The  Fourth  Day  of  Conference. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  by  ballet  members 
to  represent  them  in  the  next  General  Conference,  the 
following  persons  were  elected,  William  McKendree, 


332 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


William  Burk,  James  Ward,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Lawner 
Blackmail,  Thomas  Milligan,  and  John  Sale. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  vote  by  ballett  for  the 
seat  of  the  next  Western  Annual  Conference. 

The  majority  in  favor  of  Liberty,  Cumberland  Des- 
trict. 

The  case  of  Joshua  Oglesby,  who  applied  for  and  ob- 
tained a  Location,  reconsidered,  and  consents  to  take 
a  station,  the  Conference  therefore  revoke  their  for- 
mer vote. 

The  Conference  think  proper  to  establish  the  same 
method  of  defraying  the  travilling  expenses  of  the  deli- 
gates  to  the  General  Conference  as  was  voted  for  the 
anticipated  Conference  the  last  year,  which  method 
may  be  seen  by  reference  to  page  35th. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  collection 
among  themselves  for  the  purpose  of  printing  some 
small  and  useful  pamphlets,  to  be  given  away.  The 
collection  amounted  to  (11.16. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  James  Axley  to 
Ihe  office  of  an  Elder,  provided  he  be  sent  on  a  Mission. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  a  letter  im- 
bracing  our  sentiments  respecting  Bishop  Asbury's  con- 
duct toward  Doctr.  Coke,  and  likewise  expressing  our 
approbation  of  Bishop  Asbury's  conduct  among  us. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine  the  Contents 
of  the  said  letter  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  letter  be 
entered  on  the  Journal  as  follows: 

The  Conference  think  proper  to  take  into  consideration  Doctor 
Coke's  Letter  to  the  New  York  Conference,  which  was  an  answer 
to  his  circular  letter,  in  which  he  complains  of  the  General 
Conference  not  fulfilling  the  ingagements  that  they  made  with 
him,  and  Mr.  Asbury's  treating  him  with  a  mesterious  neglect. 
As  to  the  former  we  do  not  think  it  necessary  for  us  to  ex- 
amine the  case,  as  the  General  Conference  is  not  to  be  tried  by 
us.  But  as  Bishop  Asbury  is  accountable  to  us  and  much  depend 
on  our  Confidence  in  his  faithfulness,  we  judge  it  proper  to  ex- 
amine the  case,  and  from  the  Doctor's  engagements  with  the 


The  Journal  for  1807. 


133 


Connection  and  Conference,  and  from  the  relation  in  which  we 
are  informed  he  then  stood  to  the  British  Connection,  we  are  of 
opinion  Bishop  Asbury  gave  no  cause  of  offence. 

William  McKendree  proceeded  to  read  the  Report  of 
the  Committe  of  Business.  The  Conference  are  of  opin- 
ion that  the  Report  be  received,  errors  excepted. 


Draft  on  the  Chartered  Fund 
Draft  on  the  Book  Concern  . 


Thomas  Wilkerson  

Benjamin  Lakin   

William  Pattison   

James  Ward,  6  months 

Ralph  Lotspiech   

Joshua  Oglesby   

William  Houston  

Richard  Browning   

Joseph  Hays,  6  months 

Peter  Cartwright  

Joseph  Williams   

John  McClure  

Caleb  W.  Cloud   

Benjamin  Edge   

Joseph  Oglesby  

Abraham  Amos   

George  Askin   

George  C.  Light  

Zadock  B.  Thackston  . . 

Thomas  Heliums  

Samuel  Sellars  

David  Young  

Moses  Ashworth   

William  Vermillian  . . . 
William  Hitt,  9  months 

Jesse  Walker  

John  Travice  

James  King   

Sela  Paine,  6  months  . . 

Milton  Ladd   

Frederick  Hood   

Isaac  Quinn,  6  months 

Abbott  Goddard  

Hezekiah  Shaw   

John  Collins  

John  Crane   

Joseph  Bennett   

John  Clingin,  6  months 
John  Thompson  


27  18 
51  53 

25  00 
80  00 

12  21 

33  50 

17  38 
35  92 
22  50 
40  00 

14  75 

49  57 
62  50 
39  65 
22  27 

28  54 

15  62 

34  50 

50  39 

54  50 
33  62 

26  14 

35  13 
44  63 

6  00 
120  00 
60  00 

4  00 
22  50 

2  50 
22  27 

14  00 
60  00 

13  14 

55  53 
12  00 

18  00 
33  43 

15  00 


1,315  40 


$190 
$300 
490 


00  18 

52  00 

5  50 

7  92 
9  00 
12  00 

21  57 
34  50 
11  65 

00  54 

6  05 

26  50 
5  62 

7  13 
16  63 

67  00 

32  00 

9  00 

32  00 

18  43 

375  22 

134  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Francis  Asbury    25  00 

Elisha  Bowman,  Missionary    80  00 

480  22 

Ballence  in  Hand                                                            9  78 

490  00 

Given   

To  Adjet  McGuier                                                              7  95 

Paid  William  Burk  for  the  Book  in  which  the  Journals  are 

kept                                                                               1  83 

9  78 

The  recommendations,  required  at  last  Conference 
for  John  Collins  and  James  King,  were  brought  for- 
ward and  acknowledged.  The  papers  respecting  Ben- 
jamin Wofford  read  and  the  Conference  agree  to  admit 
the  settlement. 

The  Fifth  Day  of  Conference. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  those 
remaining  on  trial,  who  were  not  examined  at  last  Con- 
ference, and  likewise  those  who  were  admitted  on  trial 
at  this  Conference  (i.e.)  John  Collins,  Henry  Mallerly, 
Frederick  Hood,  Sela  Paine,  Hector  Sandford,  Jacob 
Turman,  William  Mitchel,  Isaac  Quinn,  and  Clingin. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  collection  in 
Conference  for  the  Missionarys  to  the  Mississippi  Des- 
trict.    The  collection  amounted  to  $60.00. 

Samuel  Parker  proceeded  to  read  a  letter  Addressed 
to  the  Brethern  in  Chillecothe,  Cincinnatti,  Flemings- 
bourgh,  and  Liberty,  expressing  our  thanks  for  their 
kind  invitations  for  the  seat  of  the  next  Western  An- 
nual Conference.  The  Conference  are  of  opinion  that 
a  letter  be  sent  to  each  of  the  above  places. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  ordain  James  Axley  to 
the  office  of  an  Elder,  in  consequence  of  his  Mission  to 
1  lie  Mississippi  Destrict.  John  Sale  proceeded  to  re- 
port to  the  Conference  that  the  Committe  have  had 
under  their  consideration  a  New  and  Compleat  Collec- 


The  Journal  for  1807. 


135 


tion  of  Hymns,  which  the  Committe  are  of  opinion  (as 
far  as  they  have  examined,)  should  be  published  in  our 
Connection. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference  that  the  business 
respecting  John  Hutt's  settlement  with  the  Editors, 
and  General  Book  Stewards,  be  referred  to  John  Sale 
for  final  settlement. 

The  Conference  voted  that  the  money  given  by  the 
Conference  for  the  purpose  of  printing  and  circulating 
pamphlets,  gratis,  be  committed  to  William  Burk,  for 
that  purpose. 

The  Conference  adjourned  to  meet  at  Liberty,  Cum- 
berland Destrict,    October  the  First  day,  1808. 
Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  Francis  Asbury. 

The  following  is  entered  on  the  Journals  of  the  An- 
nual Conference,  by  order  of  the  General  Conference, 
in  session  at  Baltimore,  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
One  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred,  and  Eight: 

The  preachers  shall  be  alowed,  for  their  trouble  of 
selling  the  Books,  not  less  than  15  nor  more  than  25 
prCent,  upon  the  wholesale  price,  for  all  the  Books 
sold  by  them,  but  the  prices  shall  he  regulated  as  in 
the  judgment  of  the  Edetors  the  different  Impressions 
will  best  afford. 

One  third  of  which  the  Presiding  Elder  shall  have 
for  his  trouble.  The  other  two  thirds  shall  be  allowed 
the  preachers,  who  sell  them,  in  their  respective  Cir- 
cuits; And  the  Book  Edetors  are  to  pay  all  the  expence 
of  the  conveyance  of  Books  to  Presiding  Elders  untill 
they  are  within  their  respective  Destricts. 

Test:  William  Burk,  Secty. 

Note  8. — "On  Monday  we  opened  our  conference  in  great 
peace  and  love,  and  continued  sitting,  day  by  day,  until  Friday 
noon.  A  delegation  of  seven  members  was  cbosen  to  the  General 
Conference.   There  were  thirteen  preachers  added,  and  we  found 


136  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


an  addition  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  members  to  the  society 
in  these  bounds;  seven  deacons  were  elected  and  ordained,  and 
ten  elders;  two  preachers  only  located;  sixty-six  preachers  were 
stationed.  Finding  my  work  done,  and  my  carriage  sold,  I  ven- 
tured once  more  to  take  horse,  with  a  determination  to  visit  the 
frontier  settlements  on  the  Great  Miami  River.  We  came  away, 
leaving  fifty  or  sixty  preachers  at  the  camp  meeting  near  the 
seat  of  conference,  and  got  to  brother  Waugh's  for  the  night." 
(Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  page  233.) 

The  appointments  for  1807  are  given  in  the  General  Minutes 
as  follows: 

Holston  District.    Learner  Blackman,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  Hezekiah  Shaw. 
Nollichuckie,  Nathan  Barnes,  Obadiah  Edge. 
French-Broad,  Benjamin  Edge. 
Clinch,  Miles  Harper,  Thomas  Trower. 
Powell's  Valley,  Abbott  Goddard. 
Carter's  Valley,  John  Henniger. 

Cumberland  District.   James  Ward,  P.  Elder. 

Cumberland,  John  McClure. 
Nashville,  Joseph  Oglesby,  David  Young. 
Red  River,  Thomas  Lasley. 
Barren,  Peter  Cartwright. 
Roaring  River,  William  Vermillion. 
Wayne,  James  King,  Sela  Paine. 
Livingston,  Abraham  Amos,  Thos.  Stilwell. 
Hartford,  John  Cragg,  William  Lewis. 
Illinois,  John  Clingan. 
Missouri,  Jesse  Walker. 
✓  Maramack,  Edmund  Wilcox. 
Duck  River,  Zadok  B.  Thackston. 

Kentucky  District.    Wm.  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone,  W.  Houston,  J.  Turman,  M.  Layton. 

Licking,  Milton  Ladd. 

Lexington,  Joseph  Hays,  Henry  Mallory. 

Hinkstone,  Elisha  W.  Bowman,  Joshua  Oglesby. 

Danville,  George  Askin,  Samuel  Sellers. 

Salt  River,  Adjet  McGuire. 

Shelby,  Thos.  Heliums,  Josiah  Crawford. 

Silver  Creek,  Moses  Ashworth. 


The  Journal  for  1801. 


137 


Ohio  District.   John  Sale,  P.  Elder. 

Miami,  Samuel  Parker,  Hector  Sanford. 

Mad  River,  T.  Milligan,  J.  Davisson,  W.  Mitchell. 

White  Water,  Joseph  Williams. 

Scioto,  John  Collins,  Joseph  Bennett. 

Deer  Creek,  Benj.  Lakin,  John  Crane. 

Hockhocking,  Ralph  Lotspeich,  Isaac  Quinn. 

Fairfield,  William  Pattison. 

Muskingum  and  Little  Kanawha,  Solomon  Langdon,  William 

Ellington. 
Wills  Creek,  James  Watts. 
Guyandott,  Fredrick  Hood. 

Mississippi  District.    Jacob  Young,  P.  Elder. 

Natchez,  Richard  Browning. 
Wilkinson,  John  Travis. 
Claiborne,  Jedediah  McMinn. 
Appalousas,  James  Axley. 
Washataw,  Anthony  Houston. 


IX. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE, 
BEGUN  AND  HELD  AT  LIBERTY  HILL,  TENNES- 
SEE, OCTOBER  1ST,  1808.° 

Those  marked  thus  *  absent. 


Members  of  Conference. 


Francis  Asbury 

Zadock  B.  Thackston 

William  McKendree 

Abraham  Amos 

William  Burk 

Solomon  Langdon* 

John  Sale 

Caleb  W.  Cloud 

Lawner  Blackman 

Nathan  Barnes* 

Jacob  Young 

Joseph  Oglesby 

Thomas  Milligan 

Thomas  Lasley 

Elisha  W.  Bowman* 

George  A  skin 

William  Pattison 

James  Ward 

Benjamin  Lakin 

Adjet  McGuier* 

Ralph  Lotspiech 

James  Davison* 

Joseph  Hays* 

James  Watt* 

Fredrick  Stiers 

Joshua  Oglesby 

John  McClure 

James  Axley 

Anthony  Houston* 

James  King 

Jesse  Walker 

Hector  Sandford 

Edmond  Wilcox 

Milton  Ladd 

Thomas  Heliums* 

Fredrick  Hood* 

Samuel  Sellers* 

Hezekiah  Shaw 

David  Young 

Abbott  Goddard 

Moses  Ash  worth 

John  Collins 

William  Virmillion 

John  Travis* 

William  Ellington* 

John  Crane 

Samuel  Parker 

Joseph  Bennett 

William  Houston 

Sela  Pain 

Richard  Browning 

Isaac  Quinn 

Peter  Cartw  right 

John  Clingan 

Miles  Harper 

William  Mjitchel* 

Benjamin  Edge 

Thomas  T rower* 

Joseph  Williams 

The  Journal  for  1808. 


139 


The  Conference  proceeded  to  admit  into  full  Connec- 
tion, to  elect  and  ordain  to  the  office  of  Deacons, 
David  Young,  James  King,  Abbott  Goddard,  Hezekiah 
Shaw,  Sela  Pain,  and  John  Crane. 

The  charrecters  of  the  following  local  preachers 
passed  in  review  before  the  A.  Conference,  they  were 
approved  and  ordained  to  the  office  of  Deacons,  Stephen 
Ellis,  William  Potts,  Lewis  Crane,  Rivers  Cormack, 
Henry  Tooley,  Thomas  Williamson.  Bales  Williams 
and  Joseph  Smith's  charrecters  passed  in  review,  but 
not  being  present  were  not  ordained. 

The  characters  of  the  following  local  preachers 
passed  in  review  before  the  A.  Conference,  and  they 
stood  approved,  Andrew  Baley,  William  Stepherson, 
John  Watson,  John  C.  Sloiom,  Ludwick  Davis,  Hosea 
Rigg,  Charles  Metheny,  David  Hogges,  Newit  Vick, 
Fletcher  Sulivan,  John  Nixon,  and  John  Akin. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  a  Committe  of 
Finance,  and  the  following  persons  were  declared  elect- 
ed, John  Sale,  Samuel  Parker,  and  Lawner  Blackman. 
Bishop  Asbury  directed  John  Sale  to  collect  the  amount 
of  deficiencies. 

Monday  Morning,  3  Day  of  Conference. 

John  Johnston,  William  B.  Elgin,  Isaac  McCown, 
John  Lewis,  and  Isaac  Lindsey  passed  an  examination 
before  the  Conference.  Likewise  John  Collins,  Milton 
Ladd,  Isaac  Quinn,  John  Clingan,  Hector  Sanford,  & 
Joseph  Bennett  were  examined  before  the  Conference. 

John  Collins,  who  had  been  a  Local  Deacon  before 
he  travilled,  was  recommended  and  elected  to  the  Eld- 
er's office. 

Fredrick  Hood,  who  had  travilled  out  his  probation, 
and  in  consequence  of  neglence  in  filling  his  appoint- 
ments and  haveing  failed  to  send  any  account  to  the 


140  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Annual  Conference,  they  thought  proper  to  discontinue 
him. 

John  Travis  being  absent  in  consequence  of  sickness, 
his  case  was  brought  into  view  and  laid  over  until 
Jacob  Young  could  be  present. 

The  charrecter  of  Thomas  Heliums,  Samuel  Sellars, 
David  Young,  and  Moses  Ashworth  examined  and  their 
probation  continued. 

Monday  Evening,  3rd  Day  of  C. 

William  Ellington  applied  for  and  obtained  a  Loca- 
tion. The  charrecter  of  Samuel  Parker,  William  Hous- 
ton, Richard  Browning,  Peter  Cartwright,  Miles  Har- 
per, Benjamin  Edge,  and  Joshua  Oglesby  were  exam- 
ined and  they  elected  to  the  office  of  Elders. 

Joseph  Williams  being  eligable  to  the  Elder's  office, 
the  Conference  proceeded  to  try  his  election.  16  For 
21  Against. 

Jacob  Young  being  present,  the  Conference  proceed- 
ed to  receive  John  Travice  and  elect  him  to  the  office 
of  a  Deacon. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  determine  by  vote  that 
an  address  be  sent  to  our  Brethern  throughout  the 
bounds  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference  to  raise  sup- 
plys  for  the  Annual  deficencies.  The  Conference  pro- 
ceeded to  elect  Banjamin  Lakin,  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  and 
Milton  Ladd  as  a  Committe  to  draw  up  an  address  to 
our  Brethern,  to  raise  supplies  for  the  Deficencies,  and 
to  Adjust  the  Book  accounts  of  the  Presiding  Elders. 

Tuesday  Morning,  4th  Day  of  C. 

The  Committee  of  Finance  reported. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  read  several  letters  ad- 
dressed to  the  Conference  for  the  Seat  of  the  next  An- 
nual Conference.  1st,  from  Nashville  Circuit,  Doug- 
lasses Meeting  House.    2nd,  from  Xolechuckie  Circuit, 


The  Journal  for  1808. 


141 


Ebenezer  M.  House.  3rd,  from  Cincinnati,  State  of 
Ohio— 

The  preachers  Remaining  on  Trial  are  as  follows: 
John  Henager,  John  Crag,  William  Lewis,  Thomas 
Dirkman,  Edmond  Wilcox,  Jedediah  McMin,  Jacob  Tur- 
man,  William  Mitchel,  Josiah  Crawford,  Thomas  Stil- 
well,  and  Henry  Mallory.  Their  Charrecters  being  ex- 
amined and  approved,  were  continued. 

The  case  of  Edmond  Wilcox  being  somewhat  pecul- 
iar, and  his  name  haveing  stood  on  the  Minutes  for 
two  years,  and  he  haveing  travilled  nearly  4  years,  the 
Conference  thought  proper  to  admit  him  into  full  Con- 
nection and  elected  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Thomas  Trower's  case  came  before  the  Conference, 
and  after  examining  the  Early  Minutes  it  was  found 
that  he  was  Received  on  Trial  at  the  Virginia  Confer- 
ence 2nd  of  February,  1806,  and  after  enquireing  into 
his  charecter  it  was  found  that  he  promised  usefulness, 
and  the  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  him  into  full 
Connection  and  elected  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

The  Bishop  proceeded  to  read  a  letter  Addressed  to 
the  Conference  from  Anthony  Houston. 

James  Quinn  who  formerly  had  been  a  member  of 
Conference  and  Located  two  years  past.  The  Confer- 
ence agree  that  he  be  Readmitted  into  the  Travilling 
Connection. 

Philip  Gatch  sent  a  request  by  letter  to  the  Annual 
Conference  requesting  that  he  might  have  a  station, 
the  Conference  thought  proper  to  leave  it  with  Bro. 
John  Sale  to  imploy  him  if  he  should  give  such  satis- 
faction as  the  Conference  has  required. 

William  Young  came  properly  recommended  from  the 
Holston  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference;  he  is  about  22 
years  of  age.  Not  examined,  the  Conference  agree  to 
receive  him. 

John  Bowman  came  properly  recommended  from  the 


142  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  Nolichuckie  Circuit.  He 
was  born  in  the  year  1773  in  Virginia,  Shannadore 
County,  partly  raised  in  Tennessee;  not  examined  but 
admitted  on  Trial. 

Horitio  Barnes  came  recommended  from  Nolichuckie 
Circuit;  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  gave  him  a 
recommendation,  but  from  information  it  appears  that 
he  has  lately  come  from  the  Monongahela  Destrict  and 
the  Conference  think  that  his  recommendation  is  rath- 
er doubtful;  not  examined. 

Wednesday  Morning  5  Day  of  Conf. 

The  following  persons  came  properly  recommended 
from  their  several  Quarterly  Meeting  Conferences:  Wil- 
liam Winans  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
of  the  Miami  Circuit,  Lewis  Anderson  from  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  Conference  of  Barren  Circuit,  John  Lew- 
is from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  the  Roar- 
ing River  Circuit,  Isaac  McCown  from  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conference  of  Wayn  Circuit,  David  Hardisty 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Danville  Cir- 
cuit, Richard  Richards  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
Conference  of  French  Broad  Ct.,  William  B.  Elgin 
from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Roaring 
River  Circuit,  John  Johnston  from  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing Conference  of  Nashville  Circuit,  Isaac  Lindseyfrom 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Nashville  Ct., 
John  Sinclair  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
of  Nashville  Ct.,  Wood  Loyed  from  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing Conference  of  Dixon  Circuit,  Moses  Crume  from  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Whitewater  Circuit, 
Eli  Truett  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of 
Limeston  Circuit.  The  Conference  are  of  opinion  that 
they  may  be  admitted  on  Trial  as  Travelling  Preachers. 

James  Guinn  proposed  himselves  as  a  Mitionary  Re- 
maining on  Trial  and  his  name  to  stand  among  the 


The  Journal  for  1808, 


U3 


Deacons  on  the  minutes.  James  Blair  came  properly 
recommended  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
of  Limestone  Circuit  and  after  the  Conference  had 
taken  his  case  under  meture  deliberation  they  think 
best  to  leave  the  Presiding  Elder  at  liberty  to  imploy 
him  if  it  be  found  that  his  circumstances  will  admit 
of  it    Moses  Black  re-admitted. 

Robert  Cloud  sent  by  Ralph  Lotspiech  for  a  Mission- 
ary Station,  the  Conference  judge  it  proper  to  grant 
him  such  a  Station. 

The  charrecters  of  the  preachers  examined  one  by 
one  before  the  Conference.  The  Committee  appointed 
to  draw  up  an  Address  reported,  stateing  our  insol- 
vency and  requesting  our  Brethren  to  rais  an  annual 
subscription  to  send  to  Conference  to  meet  the  deficen- 
cies.  The  conference  proceeded  to  rais  a  subscription 
among  themselves  to  meet  the  deflcencies  at  the  next 
Annual  Conference. 

The  Conference  granted  William  Burk  a  Supernu- 
merary Station.  At  the  request  of  the  Conference  Law- 
ner  Blackman  proceeded  to  read  a  letter  from  Elisha 
VV.  Bowman  addressed  to  him  in  answer  to  some 
charges  brought  against  him  when  his  charecter  passed 
before  the  Conference. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  appoint  a  Committee 
consisting  of  three  (ei)  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
Kentucky  Destrict,  Joshua  Oglesby,  and  William  Burk, 
to  converce  with  Elisha  W.  Bowman  on  the  subject  of 
the  above  refered  to  charges.  Joseph  Hays  applied 
to  the  Conference  by  letter  for  a  Location,  the  Confer- 
ence thought  proper  to  grant  him  a  Location. 

Adjet  McGuier  applied  by  letter  for  a  Location  and 
the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  should  be  Lo- 
cated. James  Davison  applied  for  a  Location,  the 
(Conference)  granted  the  said  Location. 


144  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Thirsday  Morning  6th  Day  of  Conf. 


John  Sale  from  the  Committee  of  Finance  reported  a 
second  time  and  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  the 
report  as  read  be  received. 

The  Report  of  the  Committe. 

The  whole  amount  of  Deficiency  is  found  to  be  $2,552  95 

And  the  Moneys  to  meet  the  difficencies  are  as  follows, 
Viz: 

Draft  on  the  Book  Concern   $  300  00 

Draft  on  the  Chartered  Fund    170  00 

Sent  by  the  Ohio  Destrict    21  60 


Making  in  the  whole   $  491  60 

So  that  we  find  after  all  the  moneys  are  disposed  of 
we  are  Insolvent   $2,016  341/2 


What  each  preacher  received  from 
the  Circuits,  &c. 


Francis  Asbury  

William  McKendree   

William  Burk   

John  Sale   

Lawner  Blackman   

Jacob  Young   

Thomas  Milligan   

Elisha  W.  Bowman  

William  Pattison   

Benjamin  Lakin   

Ralph  Lotspiech   

Joseph  Hays  

Fredrick  Etiers,  6  months. 

John  McClure   

Zadock  B.  Thackston  

Abraham  Amos  

Solomon  Langdon  

Caleb  W.  Cloud  

Nathan  Barnes   

Joseph  Oglesby   

Thomas  Lasley   

George  Askin  

James  Ward   

Adjet  McGuier   

James  Davison,  6  months.. 
James  Watt,  6  months  .... 

James  Axley   

Anthony  Houston   

Jesse  Walker   


What  was  given  to  make  up  the 
deficencies;  at  Conference  ap- 
propriated as  follows: 


$  25 

00 

25 

00 

160 

00 

192 

00 

45 

00 

55 

00 

62 

83 

41 

62 

55 

00 

100 

10% 

80 

00 

71 

00 

40 

00 

45 

00 

90 

00 

80 

00 

90 

00 

70 

00 

30 

00 

73 

i4y2 

50 

00 

90 

00 

147 

52 

90 

00 

24 

00 

24 

00 

45 

00 

63 

00 

60 

00 

15  00 

16  81 

17  44 

8  00 

30  00 
60  00 

60  00 

16  38 
27  50 
10  00 

20  53 



30  00 

Mltltllf  tlltll 

40  98 

The  Journal  for  1808. 


1  15 


What  each  preacher  received  from 
the  Circuits,  &c. 

Thomas  Heliums   

Samuel  Sellers   

David  Young   

Moses  Ashworth   

William  Virmillion   

Samuel  Parker  

William  Houston   

Richard  Browning  , 

Peter  Cartwright   , 

Miles  Harper   

Benjamin  Edge  

James  King   , 

Joseph  Williams   

Hector  Sanford  

Milton  Ladd   

Fredrick  Hood   

Hezekiah  Shaw  , 

Abbott  Goddard   

John  Collins  

John  Travis   

John  Crane   

Joseph  Bennett  

Sela  Pain   

Isaac  Quinn  

John  Clingan   

John  Henagar  

John  Crag   

William  Lewis   

Thomas  Kirkman  

Edmond  Wilcox   

Jedediah  McMin  

Jacob  Turman  

Josiah  Crawford  

Thomas  Stilwell   

Henry  Mallory   

Thomas  Trower,  6  months. 

Joshua  Oglesby  

Valentine  Cook  

William  Mitchel   


What  was  given  to  make  up  the 
deficencies;  at  Conference  ap- 
propriated as  follows: 


49  02 
43  82 
73  14V2 
45  39 

51  01 
80  00 
65  28 
45  00 
65  00 
80  00 
57  00 
45  00 
53  50 
80  00 

60  25 
35  00 

52  00 

45  20 & 
126  50 

55  00 

46  05 

75  75 
45  00 
80  00 

61  75 
57  00 
90  00 
90  00 
55  94 
45  00 
45  00 

50  75 
73  00 
48  01 

139  25 
29  95 

76  86 
100  00 

61  00 


We  find  the  money  Collected  among  the  Preachers  that  was 
not  disposed  of  to  be  $69.50,  which  is  expended  as  follows,  Viz: 

William  Lewis  $22  50 

Valentine  Cook   5  00 

Banjamin  Edge   15  00 

Isaac  McCown   15  00 

10 


146 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


John  McClure  . . 
Thomas  Heliums 


7  50 
7  50 


72  50 

A  collection  was  made  among  the  Committee  and  others  to  the 
amount  of  $3  which  will  account  for  the  difference. 


The  Conference  proceeded  to  take  a  vote  that  the 
old  rule  be  revived  of  fasting  and  abstinance  on  all 
Fridays  in  the  year.  Carried. 

The  Conference  voted  that  the  next  Western  Annual 
Conference  be  held  at  Cincinnati  on  the  30th  day  of 
September,  1809. 

The  Conference  resolved  that  the  Preachers  be  re- 
quested to  make  a  return  to  the  next  Annual  Confer- 
ence of  all  the  Licensed  Preachers,  Local  Deacons,  and 
Elders. 

John  Sale  proceeded  to  read  an  anonimous  letter  ad- 
dressed to  him  respecting  a  pamphlet  intitled  The  Fe- 
male Instructor  or  Matron's  Address  to  her  Daughters. 
The  Conference  are  determined  not  to  give  circulation 
to  any  pamphlets  or  publications  that  do  not  come  un- 
der the  patronage  of  the  General  or  Annual  Confer- 
ences. 

Zadock  B.  Thackston  received  a  Supernumerary  Sta- 
tion. William  Burk  proceeded  to  read  several  resolu- 
tions sent  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of 
Hinkston  and  Limestones  Circuits,  stateing  the  neces- 
sity of  a  rule  on  the  subject  of  slavery  as  it  respects 
buying  and  selling.  William  Burk  proceeded  to  read 
the  remonstrance  of  the  Local  Preachers  from  Lexing- 
ton and  Salt  River  Circuits  respecting  the  ordination 
of  Local  Deacons  to  the  office  of  Elders.  Bishop  Mc- 
Kendree  proceeded  to  read  an  answer  to  the  above 
remonstrance. 


Signed  by  the  Committee. 


John  Sale, 
Lawneb  Black  man, 
Samuel  Pabkeb. 


The  Journal  for  1808. 


147 


William  Burk  proceeded  to  read  an  Address  to  the 
Annual  Conference,  setting  forth  the  necessity  of  a 
rule  on  the  subject  of  buying  and  selling  slaves.  Signed 
by  James  Guinn. 

Friday  Morning  7th  Day  op  Conf. 

We  move  that  the  subject  of  slavery  be  considered 
and  some  dicisive  rule  be  made  on  that  subject.  John 
Collins,  Samuel  Parker. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  appoint  a  Committee 
to  draft  a  Rule  on  the  Subject  of  Slavery.  Resolved 
that  John  Sale,  Banjamin  Lakin,  and  William  Burk 
be  appointed  said  Conamitte. 

The  case  of  Durham  Turner,  a  Local  Preacher  from 
Barren  Circuit,  came  before  the  Conference  in  the  form 
of  an  appeal.  The  Conference  confirmed  the  judgment 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference. 

By  information  received  from  James  Ward  respect- 
ing John  Watson,  a  Local  Preacher  from  Wayn  Cir- 
cuit, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  may  be  re- 
ceived on  trial  as  a  Travilling  Preacher.  After  exami- 
nation he  was  ordained  a  Deacon.  William  Burk  re- 
ported from  the  Committe  appointed  to  draft  a  Rule 
on  the  Subject  of  Slavery. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
report.  On  the  vote  being  taken,  the  majority  nega- 
tived the  report  and  ordered  that  the  same  lay  on  the 
table  for  amendment.  It  was  moved  and  seconded  that 
the  above  report  continue  to  lay  on  the  table,  and  that 
the  address  signed  by  James  Guinn  'be  taken  up  and 
considered.  The  Conference  determine  to  take  up  the 
said  address,  and  the  same  was  negatived.  Lawner 
Blackman  proceeded  to  read  a  letter  addressed  to  Val- 
entine Cook  on  the  subject  of  his  Mission,  in  which  he 
is  informed  that  the  Conference  will  pay  him  when 
able. 


148 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


The  Coininitte  appointed  to  examine  the  Book  ac- 
counts of  the  Presiding  Elders  reported.  The  report 
was  received  by  the  Conference.  The  report  of  the 
Comrnitte  appointed  to  Draft  a  Kule  on  the  Subject  of 
Slavery,  haveing  been  amended,  the  Conference  pro- 
ceeded to  take  a  vote  on  the  report  as  amended  and 
adopted  the  following  regulations: 

Western  Annual  Conference. 

Quest.  What  method  shall  be  taken  with  a  member  of  our 
Society  that  shall  enter  into  the  Slave  Trade  and  shall  buy  or 
sell  a  Slave  or  Slaves? 

Ansser.  Every  preacher  who  has  the  charge  of  a  Circuit  shall 
upon  information  received  cite  every  such  member  or  members 
so  buying  or  selling  a  Slave  or  Slaves  to  appear  at  the  insueing 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  and  there  to  submit  his  or  their 
case  to  the  judgment  of  the  said  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
who  shall  proceed  to  determine  wheather  the  Person  or  Persons 
have  purchased  or  sold  such  Slave  or  Slaves  in  a  case  of  mercy 
or  humanity  or  from  speculative  motives,  and  if  a  majority  of 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  judge  that  they  have  bought 
or  sold  with  such  speculative  motives  they  shall  accordingly 
expel  every  such  Person  or  Persons. 

And  in  case  the  Presedent  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ence should  differ  in  judgment  from  the  majority  and  think 
they  have  retained  the  Person  or  Persons  improperly,  he  may 
refer  his  or  their  case  to  the  insueing  Annual  Conference  and  if 
any  Person  or  Persons  think  they  are  injured  by  the  dicision  of 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  such  Person  or  Persons  shall 
be  allowed  an  appeal  to  the  insueing  Annual  Conference,  pro- 
vided they  signify  the  same  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Confer- 
ence at  the  time  of  trial,  and  the  Presedent  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conference  shall  cause  the  minutes  of  such  trial  to  be 
laid  before  the  Annual  Conference  who  shall  judge  and  finally 
determine  in  every  such  case.  Francis  Asbury, 

William  McKendree. 

Liberty  Hill,  Tennessee,  October  7th,  1808. 
William  Burk,  Secty. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine  the  Accounts 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  Charity  Fund.    It  was  motioned 


The  Journal  for  1808. 


149 


and  seconded  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Charity  Fund 
be  desolved.  Resolved  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Chari- 
ty Fund  be  disolved. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  the  Address  of 
the  Committee  Appointed  to  draw  up  an  Address  to 
our  Brethern  requesting  them  to  make  an  Annual  Col- 
lection by  Subscription  or  otherwise  to  meet  the  dis- 
tresses of  the  most  indegent,  and  as  far  as  possible 
to  meet  the  deficencies  of  the  Preachers. 

Resolved  that  the  Address  be  received  and  signed 
by  the  Bishops,  and  that  a  coppy  of  the  same  be  put 
into  the  hands  of  the  assistant  of  every  Circuit. 

Liberty  Hill,  Tennessee,  October  7th,  1808. 
The  Western  Conference  Assembled  to  all  under  Her  Patronage 
Sendeth  Greeting. 

Dear  Brethren:  We  feel  ourselves  as  much  as  ever  interested 
in  the  happiness  of  our  fellow  creatures  and  are  conscious  that  a 
large  field  is  opening  in  almost  every  direction  for  the  spread 
of  the  Gospel.  Hundreds  and  thousands  are  inviteing  us  to  come 
to  their  help,  many  valuable  men  are  willing  to  take  up  their 
Cross  and  brook  all  the  difficulties  of  an  itenerant  life  in  order 
to  spread  the  gospel  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom,  but  we  lack 
means  for  their  supply,  for  after  all  the  exertions  that  have  been 
made  in  the  several  Circuits  and  the  conscientious  application 
of  $470,  which  is  all  we  receive  from  the  Book  Concern  and 
Chartered  Fund,  we  still  find  ourselves  insolvent  $2,016.34^. 
We  have  therefore  thought  proper  to  address  you  on  the  occasion 
and  solicit  your  assistance  to  inable  us  to  spread  useful  knowl- 
edge and  do  all  the  good  we  possibly  can. 

We  hope,  dear  Brethren,  you  will  not  be  backward  in  setting 
your  hands  to  paper  and  giving  us  your  word  that  you  will  pay  us 
whatever  sums  you  may  think  proper  to  affix  to  your  names.  We 
wish  you  to  understand  us,  we  do  not  mean  that  these  collections 
are  to  be  applied  to  the  preachers  as  their  Quarterage.  We  hope 
you  will  do  all  you  can  to  make  up  their  preachers  their  allowance 
in  their  several  Circuits,  and  that  this  extra  collection  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  Annual  Conference  to  meet  the  destresses  of  the 
more  indegent.  We  assure  you  dear  Brethern  that  we  shall  be 
particular  in  the  distrebution  of  whatever  sum  or  sums  you  may 
please  to  forward  to  us. 


150 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


We  conclude  by  praying  that  God  may  prosper  you  in  your 
souls  and  bodies,  in  your  baskett  and  store,  and  when  our  toils 
and  sufferings  are  at  an  end  we  hope  to  meet  you  in  the  land 
of  Rest. 

We  are,  dear  Brethern,  yours  in  the  bonds  of  a  peacable 
Gospel. 

William  Burk,  Secty.  Francis  Asbury, 

William  McKendree. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  settlement  with 
the  deligates  to  the  last  General  Conference,  the  Con- 
ference and  the  deligates  agree  to  ballance  accounts. 

The  Conference  directed  that  $33.50  now  in  the  hands 
of  the  former  Trustees  of  the  Charity  Fund  be  depos- 
ited with  William  Burk  for  the  use  and  benifit  of  the 
Trustees  of  Bethel  Academy. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  give  the  Conference 
some  advice  respecting  the  important  subject  of  The 
mesterious  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  Divinity,  and  Hu- 
manity of  Christ  in  which  he  advises  all  to  attend  to 
the  language  of  Scripture. 

The  Conference  proceed  to  make  a  collection  to  pay 
for  the  Printing  of  Pamphlets  which  are  to  be  given 
away  and  which  William  Burk  by  the  direction  of  the 
last  Conference  had  printed.  The  collection  amounted 
to  $10. 

The  Stations  being  read,  the  Conference  adjourned 
to  meet  again  at  Cincinnati,  State  of  Ohio,  September 
the  30th,  1809. 

Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 

William  Burk,  Secty.  Francis  Asbury, 

William  McKendreb. 

Note  9. — To  the  Conference  of  1808  Bishop  Asbury  came,  in 
an  "afflicted  state,"  by  way  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  Ken- 
tucky, preaching,  ordaining,  and  counciling  as  he  came.  Travel- 
ing with  him  is  Martin  Boehm,  who  occasionally  preaches  in 
German.  Among  the  places  where  the  Bishop  preached  are 
Bush  Creek,  Chillicothe,  Deer  Creek  Camp  Meeting,  Xenia,  Little 


The  Journal  for  1808. 


151 


Miami,  Lawrenceburg,  in  Indiana,  and  at  many  of  the  cabins 
along  the  way.  He  spent  from  September  8  to  October  1  passing 
through  Kentucky.  In  his  Journal  for  October  1  is  this  entry: 
"I  began  conference.  I  preached  twice  on  the  Sabbath  day;  and 
again  on  Tuesday.  Our  conference  was  a  camp-meeting,  where 
the  preachers  ate  and  slept  in  tents.  We  sat  six  hours  a  day, 
stationed  eighty-three  preachers,  and  all  was  peace.  On  Friday 
the  sacrament  was  administered,  and  we  hope  there  were  souls 
converted,  and  strengthened,  and  sanctified.  We  made  a  regu- 
lation respecting  slavery;  it  was,  that  no  member  of  society, 
or  preacher,  should  sell  or  buy  a  slave  unjustly,  Inhumanly,  or 
covetously;  the  case,  on  complaint,  to  be  examined  for  a  member 
by  the  quarterly  meeting;  and  for  a  preacher  an  appeal  to  an 
annual  conference.  Where  the  guilt  was  proved  the  offender  to 
be  expelled.  The  families  of  the  Hills,  Sewalls,  and  Cannon, 
were  greatly  and  affectionately  attentive  to  us." 

Returning  east,  the  Bishop  and  his  party  crossed  the  moun- 
tains into  North  Carolina.  Of  the  month  of  October  this  year 
(1808),  the  Bishop  says:  "It  has  been  a  serious  October  to  me; 
I  have  laboured  and  suffered;  but  I  have  lived  near  to  God." 
(Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  247-252.) 

The  appointments  for  1808,  as  given  in  the  General  Minutes, 
were  as  follows: 

Holston  District.  Learner  Blackman,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  William  Pattison,  Moses  Ashworth. 
Watauga,  Thomas  Milligan. 
Nollichuckie,  Thomas  Trower,  Horatio  Barnes. 
French-Broad,  Nathan  Barnes,  Isaac  Lindsey. 
Clinch,  Isaac  Quinn,  Lewis  Anderson. 
Powell's  Valley,  James  Axley. 
Carter's  Valley,  Moses  Black. 
Tennessee  Valley,  Milton  Ladd. 

Cumberland  District.    Miles  Harper,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Elisha  W.  Bowman,  William  Virmillion. 

Red  River,  Fredrick  Stier. 

Barren,  Joseph  Bennett,  John  Lewis. 

Roaring  River,  Zadok  B.  Thackston,  John  Travis. 

Livingston,  Thomas  Kirkman. 

Hartford,  Samuel  Sellers,  Jacob  Turman. 

Duck  River,  John  Cragg. 

Elk,  Thomas  Stilwell. 


152 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Dixon,  William  Lewis. 
James  Guinn,  missionary. 

Kentucky  District.    James  Ward,  P.  Elder. 
Limestone,  James  King,  Wm.  Winans. 
Licking,  John  Clingan. 

Lexington,  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  William  B.  Elgin. 

Danville,  David  Hardesty,  John  Henninger. 

Salt  River,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Shelby,  George  Askin,  Henry  Mallory. 

Green  River,  John  Watson,  Richard  Richards. 

Wayne,  Sela  Paine. 

Cumberland,  Richard  Browning. 

Hinkstone,  William  Burke,  Eli  Truitt,  J.  Blair. 

Fleming,  Joshua  Oglesby,  Edmund  Wilcox. 

Mississippi  District.    John  McClure,  P.  Elder. 
Natchez,  Thomas  Heliums. 
Wilkinson,  Jedediah  McMinn. 
Claiborne,  Anthony  Houston. 
Appalousas,  Benjamin  Edge 
Washataw,  Isaac  McKowen. 

Indiana  District.    Samuel  Parker,  P.  Elder. 
Illinois,  Jesse  Walker. 
Missouri,  Abraham  Amos. 
Maramack,  Joseph  Oglesby. 
Cold  Water,  John  Crane. 
White  Water,  Hector  Sanford,  Moses  Crume. 
Silver  Creek,  Josiah  Crawford. 

Miami  District.   John  Sale,  p.  Elder. 
Cincinnati,  Wm.  Houston,  John  Sinclair. 
Mad  River,  Hezekiah  Shaw,  Wm.  Young,  S.  Henkle. 
Scioto,  Abbott  Goddard,  Joseph  Williams. 
Deer  Creek,  John  Collins,  Wood  Lloyd. 
Hockhocking,  Benj.  Lakin,  John  Johnson. 
White  Oak,  David  Young. 

Muskingum  District.   James  Quinn,  P.  Elder. 
Fairfield,  Ralph  Lotspeich,  John  Bowman. 
Wills  Creek,  James  Watts,  Wm.  Young  last  six  months. 
West  Wheeling,  Jacob  Young,  Thomas  Church. 
Marietta,  Solomon  Langdon. 
Little  Kanawha,  William  Mitchell. 
Guyandott,  John  Holmes. 
Leading  Creek,  Thomas  Lasley. 


X. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE  BEGUN  AND 
HELD  AT  CINCINNATI,  STATE  OF  OHIO, 
SEPTEMBER  THE  30TH,  1809.10 

Members  of  Conference. 


Those  marked  *  not  present. 
Francis  Asbury,  Bishop 
William  McKendree,  Bishop 
Lawner  Blackman 
William  Pattison 
Moses  Ash  worth* 
Nathan  Barnes* 
Isaac  Quinn 
James  Axley 
Thomas  Milligan* 
Milton  Ladd 
Miles  Harper 
Elisha  W.  Bowman* 
William  Vermillion* 
Frederick  Stire 
Joseph  Bennett 
Zadock  B.  Thackston* 
John  Travis 
Samuel  Sellars 
Samuel  Parker 
Jesse  Walker 
John  Oglesby 
Abraham  Amos 
John  Crane* 
Hector  Sanford* 
John  McClure* 
Thomas  Heliums* 
Anthony  Houston 
Benjamin  Edge 
James  Ward 
William  Burk 
Joshua  Oglesby 
VEdmond  Wilcox 
James  King 


John  Clingon 
Caleb  W.  Cloud 
George  Askin 
Peter  Cartwright 
Sela  Pain 
Richard  Browning* 
John  Sale 
Hezekiah  Shaw 
Abbott  Goddard 
Joseph  Williams 
John  Collim 
Benjamin  Lakin 
William  Houston 
David  Young 
James  Quinn 
Ralph  Lotspiech 
Jacob  Young 
Thomas  Lasley 
Solomon  Langdon 
Robert  Cloud 
Thomas  Trower 
Admitted  as  Members 
John  Henniger 
John  Cragg* 
William  Lewis 
Jedidiah  McMin* 
Jacob  Turman 
William  Mitchel 
Josiah  Crawford 
Thomas  Stilwell 
Henry  Maloney 
Thomas  Church* 


154 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  V/est. 


Both  the  Bishops  and  a  Majority  of  the  Conference 
being  present,  they  proceeded  to  business,  Bishop  As- 
bury  in  the  Chare.  The  hours  agreed  upon  for  the 
sitting  of  the  Conference  are  as  follows,  At  9  oc  in  the 
Morning  and  3  oc  in  the  Afternoon  to  Adjourn  at  12  oc 
and  at  51  Afternoon.  It  is  Likewise  agreed  that  Henry 
Boehm  be  admitted  to  have  a  seat  among  us  in  Con- 
ference and  should  Daniel  Hitt  come  duering  the  time 
of  Conference  he  may  be  priviladged  the  same  as  Broth- 
er H.  Boehm. 

It  is  further  agreed  that  no  one  leave  the  Conference 
Boom  without  first  giveing  notise. 

Brother  John  Sale  moved  that  the  Conference  pro- 
ceed to  nominate  5  as  a  Committe  of  Appropriation. 

Lawner  Blackman  moved  that  the  number  consist  of 
3.  The  Question  being  taken  the  Conference  are  of 
Opinion  that  the  number  consist  of  5. 

The  votes  being  taken  by  ballott  it  appears  that 
Samuel  Parker,  Lawner  Blackman,  John  Sale,  John 
Collins,  and  William  Burk  are  hereby  appointed  said 
Committe. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  Draft  on  the 
Chartered  Fund  for  $140  and  likewise  a  Draft  on  the 
Book  Concern  for  $300. 

Satuerday  Afternoon  Bishop  Asbury  in  the  Chare. 
The  Conference  proceeded  to  collect  the  money  sub- 
scribed by  the  preachers  at  Last,  which  amounted  to 
$85.00.  The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  the  money 
collected  from  the  different  Districts  according  to  the 
plan  proposed  by  the  last  Annual  Conference,  (viz) 

From  Holston  Destrict.$  1  00  5  Muskingum  Do  $  

2  Cumberland  Do  80  00  6  Indianna  Do  $  

3  Kentucky  Do  164  87^  7  Mississippi  Do  $  

4  Miami  Do  73  25 

The  whole  amount  collected  by  the  subscription  $320.- 
12  1-2. 


The  Journal  for  1800. 


165 


By  the  direction  of  the  Bishop  John  Sale  proceeded 
to  read  a  letter  from  John  McClure,  Presiding  Elder 
in  the  Mississippi  Destrict,  addressed  to  the  Bishops 
and  Conference. 

Monday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chare. 

The  Conference  meet  according  to  appointment. 

And  William  Burk  from  the  Committe  of  Appropria- 
tions proceeded  to  read  their  report  so  far  as  they 
had  progressed  and  the  Conference  agree  to  receive  the 
following  report: 

On  Satuerday  Evening  7  oc  the  Committe  of  Appropriations 
meet  according  to  appointment  consisting  of  John  Sale,  Lawner 
Blackman,  Samuel  Parker,  John  Collins,  and  William  Burk. 
They  proceeded  to  organize  themselves  in  the  following  manner, 
John  Sale,  Presedent  and  William  Burk  Secratary,  and  they  ac- 
cordingly proceeded  to  business. 

1.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committe  that  the  following  be 
submitted  to  the  Conference  as  a  Proper  Method  to  Establish 
Uniformity  in  Respect  to  Travilling  Expenses:  1  Horse  Shewing 
2  Tavern  Bills  3  Feredge's  4  Turn  pikes  5  Tole  Bridge's  6th 
and  Lastly  that  the  Bishops  are  to  be  considered  as  Exempt 
cases,  and  therefore  they  are  to  be  Allowed  as  Expenses  what- 
ever they  may  pay  for  official  Letters  and  for  Persons  to  Conduct 
them  from  Place  to  Place. 

2.  Resolved  by  the  Committe  that  we  will  only  destribute  the 
sums  from  the  Chartered  fund  and  Book  Concern  to  those  who 
are  defficient,  and  that  the  surplus  collections  be  disposed  of  at 
the  discretion  of  the  Committe  to  the  most  necesitous  by  the 
approbation  of  the  Conference. 

3.  Resolved  that  if  a  preacher  neglect  his  circuit  in  the  inter- 
vals of  the  Annual  Conference  that  he  shall  be  subject  to  a  de- 
duction of  his  allowance  if  he  be  deficient. 

John  Henigar's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

John  Cragg's  case  before  the  Conference  for  admis- 
sion, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  admitted 
and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

William  Lewis's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 


156  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

mission,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Thomas  Kirkman's  case  before  the  Conference  for 
admission,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  consid- 
ering his  Local  Situation,  bodily  debility  and  want  of 
Attention  to  his  Circuit,  that  he  be  discontinued. 

Jedidiah  McMin's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted, and  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Jacob  Turman's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

William  Mitchel's  case  before  the  Conference  for 
admission,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Josiah  Crawford's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Thomas  Stilwell's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Henry  Mallory's  case  before  the  Conference  for  ad- 
mission, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  ad- 
mitted and  they  accordingly  admit  as  a  Travilling 
preacher. 

James  Gwinn's  case  before  the  Conference  for  admis- 
sion, the  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  discon- 
tinued. 

Monday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chare. 

The  cases  and  charrecters  of  those  purposed  as  Local 
Preachers,  for  Deacons  Orders  came  before  the  Con- 
ference, and  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference  that 
following  Persons  be  elected  (viz)  Elijah  Sparkes,  La- 
ban  Brazer,  Peter  Hastings,  Joseph  Joslin,  Joseph 
White,  Joseph  Proctor,  William  Duglass,  Thomas 
Mitch  el,  and  Charles  Holliday. 


The  Journal  for  1809. 


157 


Tuesday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chare. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  finish  the  cases  and 
charrecters  of  Local  Preachers  applying  for  Deacons 
Orders  as  follows,  Elijah  Sutton,  Archabold  McElory, 
Henry  Thompson,  William  Roggers,  Warrick  Bristoo, 
Benjamin  Bonham,  Elias  Turner,  Cornelious  McOuier, 
Zachues  Queshnbury,  John  Powers,  Edward  Hall,  and 
Kobert  Daugherty, 

The  charrecter  of  Thomas  Trower  and  John  Travice, 
who  were  elected  to  Deacons  orders  last  Conference, 
but  were  not  Ordained  in  consequence  of  their  not  be- 
ing Present  there  characters  stood  approved  before  the 
Conference  when  examined. 

Tuesday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chare. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  Answer  the  7  Question 
(I  E)  Who  have  Located  this  year?  Answered  as  fol- 
lows, Thomjas  Milligan,  Nathan  Barnes,  Moses  Ash- 
worth,  William  Virmillion,  Thomas  Church,  Joseph 
V  Oglesby,  Edmond  Wilcox,  and  John  Oglesby. 

Elisha  W.  Bowman  applied  by  letter  to  the  Confer- 
ence for  a  Location,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference 
that  he  be  placed  among  the  Superanuated. 

It  was  moved  by  William  Burk  that  the  Award  of 
the  Committe  Respecting  Elisha  W.  Bowman  be  en- 
tered on  the  Journal,  the  vote  being  taken,  it  was  or- 
dered that  the  same  be  inserted. 

Pursuant  to  a  Resolution  of  the  Western  Annual  Conference 
Held  at  Liberty  Hill,  Cumberland,  Tennessee,  October,  1808, 
we  the  Committe  according  to  the  instructions  given  have 
Waited  on  the  Rev.  Elisha  W.  Bowman,  and  have  Convesed  with 
him  on  the  Substance  of  the  Complaints  or  Charges  Exhibited 
against  him  at  Said  Conference. 

And  So  far  as  we  are  Capable  of  Judging,  think  the  Com- 
plaints or  Charges  groundless,  and  that  their  is  no  Reason  of 
Complaint  against  him. 

As  Witness  Our  hands  James  Ward. 

Monday  October  31st  1808.  William  Buek. 


158  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

[At  this  point  in  the  Journal  the  handwriting  changes,  though 
Burk  continues  to  be  the  Secretary.  The  writing  resembles  that 
of  Learner  Blackman,  who  was  the  Secretary  for  the  session  of 
1811.— Edit or] 

Robert  Miller  a  Local  Preacher  in  Flemniin-g  Circuit 
was  Recommended  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference 
for  Deacons  orders — but  thro'  forgetfulness  no  written 
Recommendation  came  forward  to  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence. But  the  Annual  Conference  are  of  opinion  that 
in  this  case  the  regular  Method  be  dispinsed  with  &  the 
Conference  elect  him  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

The  Cases  and  Characters  of  those  who  remain  on 
trial  for  Elders  office  examined  before  the  conference  & 
nothing  alledged  against  any  of  them. 

Wednesday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

John  Sale  moved  that  the  Conference  allow  him  a 
certain  Discount  on  some  damaged  Books  sent  to  his 
District  from  the  Book  Steward,  the  Conference  are  of 
oppinion  that  the  Sd.  Discount  be  allowed  him. 

John  Shields  forwarded  a  note  to  the  Bishops  &  Con- 
ference stating  his  dissatisfaction  concerning  the  nega- 
tive put  on  his  recommendation  for  Deacon's  orders  on 
which  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  there  be  a 
Special  Committee  appointed  to  converse  with  him  on 
the  subject,  and  the  Committee  which  was  appointed 
on  this  Occasion  was  to  consist  of  the  four  following 
persons,  John  Sale,  James  Quinn,  John  Collins  &  Wil- 
liam Burk. 

The  Conference  proceed  to  examine  the  characters  of 
those  eligible  to  the  office  of  Elders  on  which  the  Con- 
ference are  of  oppinion  that  the  following  persons  be 
and  are  hereby  elected  to  that  Office. — Thomas  Hel- 
iums,* Samuel  Sellars,  &  David  Young. 

Joseph  Williams's  case  came  next  before  the  Confer- 
ence. On  mature  deliberation  they  are  of  oppinion  1st 
That  he  shall  not  be  Elected  to  the  Office  of  an  Elder 


The  Journal  for  1809. 


150 


2nd  That  it  is  the  Oppinion  of  the  Conference  He  shall 
not  be  employed  any  longer  as  a  Travelling  Preacher 
3rd  And  Lastly  that  he  shall  receive  a  Location  &  they 
Accordingly  Give  'him  Sd.  Location. 

John  Holms  from  the  Baltimore  Conference  his  case 
came  before  the  Conference  &  after  examining  into  his 
character  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  he  be 
elected  to  the  Office  of  an  Elder. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
characters  of  those  who  continue  on  Trial.  They  are 
as  follows,  William  Young,  John  Bowman,  who  are 
continued,  But  on  Examining  duly  into  the  case  of 
Horatio  Barnes,  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that 
not  for  any  immorality  but  from  a  consideration  of  the 
irregularity  of  his  mind  and  Actions  be  be  discontinued. 

Wednesday  in  the  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in 
the  Chair. 

William  Winan's  case  &  character  before  the  Con- 
ference. It  is  the  oppinion  of  the  Conference  that  he 
remain  on  Trial  &  that  BP.  McKendree  give  him  a  se- 
vere reprimand  for  his  conduct  &  that  this  be  done  be- 
fore the  Conference,  his  conduct  which  is  deemed  im- 
proper is  bis  making  proposals  of  marriage  to  the  Sis- 
ters &  his  general  familiarity  with  the  fair. 

John  Martin  Local  Preacher  present  before  the  Con- 
ference praying  that  be  may  have  an  Appeal  to  this 
Annual  Conference  from  the  judgement  of  the  Deer 
Creek  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  who  had  suspend- 
ed him  from  Official  Services,  it  is  the  opinion  of 
the  Conference  that  his  ease  does  not  come  before  them 
in  consequence  of  its  being  only  a  Suspension  from 
Official  Services. 

The  Conference  then  proceeded  to  resume  the  busi- 
ness of  examining  the  cases  &  characters  of  those  who 
remain  on  Trial,    (viz)  Lewis  Anderson,  John  Lewis, 


1G0  The  Rise  of  Methodism  m  the  West. 

Isaac  McCown,  Richard  Richards,  William  B.  Elgin, 
John  Johnston,  Isaac  Lindsay,  Moses  Crume,  Eli  Tru- 
itt,  John  Watson,  &  James  Blair, — Nothing  stated 
against  any  of  tJiem. 

Thursday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

Tho.  Scott  Local  Preacher  from  Deer  Creek  Quarter- 
ly Meeting  Conference  now  before  the  Conference. 
Praying  that  he  may  have  an  Appeal  to  this  Annual 
Conference  from  the  judgement  of  Sd.  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing Conference;  The  Chair  gave  it  as  his  oppinion  that 
the  Appeal  might  properly  lay  before  this  Conference, 
a  vote  being  taken  the  Conference  concured  in  oppinion. 
The  Legality  of  the  Appeal  was  objected  to  in  conse- 
quence of  his  not  having  signified  his  intention  of  Ap- 
pealing at  the  Quarter  Meeting  Conference.  But  as 
said  T.  Scott  was  unavoidably  absent  at  the  time  of 
Quarterly  Meeting  it  is  the  oppinion  of  this  Conference 
that  the  case  does  properly  come  before  them.  Upon 
the  Chair  giving  it  as  his  oppinion  that  the  Appeal 
could  not  be  acted  upon  at  this  Conference  for  want  of 
the  necessary  documents  or  papers  the  vote  being  tak- 
en the  Majority  of  the  Conference  differed  in  Oppinion. 

It  is  further  determined  in  the  Conference  by  vote 
that  they  will  continue  in  cession  until  the  business 
be  finished.  On  which  the  following  paper  was  laid 
upon  the  Table: 

Cincinnati  Annual  Conference. 

A  charge  exhibited  against  Tho.  Scott  before  the  Quarterly- 
Meeting  Conference  held  at  White  Browns  for  Deer  Creek  Cir- 
cuit, August  26,  1809,  was  as  follows  (Viz)  that  he  attended  a 
Berbecue  in  the  Town  of  Chilicothe  on  the  4th  of  July. 

October  5th  1809. 

After  taking  into  view  the  complete  State  of  the 
Case  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  the  whole  of 
the  Business  be  sent  back  as  unfinished  to  the  said 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Deer  Creek  Circuit  & 


The  Journal  for  1809. 


161 


there  to  have  (he  same  adjusted  &  that  Caleb  W.  Cloud 
&  Tho.  Stillwell  be  &  are  hereby  appointed  to  write  a 
letter  of  Conciliation  to  the  said  Quarterly  Meeting 
Conference. 

Thursday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

Bishop  McKendree  proceeded  to  give  William  Winans 
a  reprimand  before  the  Conference  for  his  improper 
conduct  toward  the  Female  Sex  especially  his  making 
proposals  of  Marriage  in  an  improper  way. 

It  is  moved  by  Samuel  Parker  &  seconded  by  John 
Collins  that  James  Gwin's  case  be  taken  up  &  recon- 
sidered— on  taking  a  vote  it  is  resolved  that  his  case  be 
taken  up  &  reconsidered  &  it  becomes  the  oppinion  of 
the  Conference  on  the  reexamination  that  he  remain  on 
trial. 

The  Conference  now  proceeded  to  the  first  Question 
of  the  Minutes  for  the  Itinerary  &  received  the  recom- 
mendations &  examine  the  cases  and  characters  of 
those  who  are  to  be  admitted  on  Trial.  It  is  the  op- 
pinion  of  the  Conference  that  the  following  persons 
be  admitted  on  trial  (Viz),  1.  James  B.  Findley,  a 
married  man  &  one  child  from  Scioto  Circuit.  2.  Alex- 
ander Cummins  from  Hockhockin  Circuit  a  married 
man  with  one  child.  3.  John  Brown  a  single  man  from 
Hockhockin  Circuit.  4.  Walter  Griffith  came  recom- 
mended from  White  Oak  Circuit  Miami  District,  the 
Conference  are  of  opinion  that  his  recommendation  be 
not  received  but  admit  that  the  Presiding  Elder  shall 
be  at  liberty  to  employ  him. 

Stephen  Timmons  from  the  Scioto  Circuit  who  hath 
been  a  travelling  Preacher  some  years  ago  in  the  Bal- 
timore &  Philadelphia  Conferences  &  after  several  years 
Location  in  the  bounds  of  the  Western  Conference  & 
now  sending  forward  a  request  to  Travel  the  Confer- 
ence complied  with  said  request. 
11 


162 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Friday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committe  of  Appropriations  proceeded  to  read 
their  report  to  the  Conference  which  was  ordered  to  lay 
on  the  Table  for  further  consideration. 

After  which  the  Conference  proceed  to  receive  the 
recommendations  of  those  who  are  recommended  as 
travelling  Preachers. 

Hoist  on  District. 

1.  Samuel  Heliums  from  the  Nolichuckie  Circuit  a 
single  man. 

Indiana  District. 

2.  Thomas  Wright  from  the  Illinois  Circuit  a  mar- 
ried man  about  25  years  of  age. 

Kentucky  District. 

3.  Charles  Holliday  from  the  Licking  Circuit  a  mar- 
ried man. 

4.  Henry  McDaniel  from  the  Hinkstone  Circuit  a 
married  man. 

Muskingum  District. 

5.  Samuel  West  from  the  Kanawha  Circuit  a  single 
man  of  about  23  years  of  age. 

Kentucky  District. 

6.  Thos.  Nelson  from  the  Danville  Circuit  a  single 
man. 

Friday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 
Cumberland  District. 
The  Conference  continued  the  Progress  of  receiving 
such  as  came  recommended  to  the  Conference  as  Trav- 
elling Preachers  (Viz) 

7.  Samuel  H.  Thompson,  a  young  man  from  Hart- 
ford Circuit. 

8.  John  Manley  from  Livingston  Circuit  a  single  man. 


The  Journal  far  1809.  103 

9.  Francis  Travis  from  Livingston  Circuit  a  single 
man. 

10.  Daniel  McElyea  from  Dixon  Circuit  a  single  man. 
The  case  of  Stephen  Timmons  reconsidered  from  a 

motion  made  &  seconded  &  the  Conference  of  Oppinion 
they  reverse  their  former  vote  respecting  him. 

The  Conference  next  enter  into  an  examination  of 
the  cases  &  characters  of  the  Elders  in  which  proceed- 
ure  there  was  some  difficulties  suggested  respecting 
improper  doctrines  having  been  held  forth  in  some  par- 
ticular points  on  which  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Chair 
that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  examine  into  doc- 
trines the  Committee  appointed  is  the  following  persons 
(Viz)  Bishop  McKendree,  Lawner  Blackman,  Samuel 
Parker,  &  William  Burk  who  are  to  examine  the  Meth- 
odist Doctrines. 

Satturday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

He  proceeded  to  the  Examination  of  the  following 
Persons  (Viz)  John  Bowman,  William  Young,  John 
Travis,  John  Watson,  James  Blair,  Eli  Truitt,  John 
Henagar,  &  Josiah  Crawford  respecting  their  Faith  & 
practice  as  Ministers. 

Bishop  McKendree  then  proceeded  to  deliver  a  Mes- 
sage to  Bro.  Miles  Harper  &  to  give  him  some  advice 
relating  to  some  of  his  peculiarities,  to  be  attended 
to  by  him  in  his  future  conduct. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  continue  in  the  progress 
of  the  Examinations  of  the  Characters  of  the  Elders  &c. 

The  Conference  next  proceeded  to  receive  the  report 
of  the  Committee  of  Appropriations  so  far  as  they  have 
progressed  the  report  states  that  there  is  yet  in  re- 
serve |99.00  yet  to  be  appropriated  to  necessitous  cases. 
The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Appropriations  as  Follows. 


Draft  on  the  Chartered  Fund  If 140  00 

Draft  on  the  Book  Concern  |  300  00 

Preachers  Collection   |    85  00 

Collection  from  Holston  District  [     1  00 


164 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Collection  from  Cumberland  District 
Collection  from  Kentucky  District  . 

Collection  from  Miami  District  

Publick  Collection  at  Conference  . . . 


1.  Holston  Destrict. 


Francis  Asbury   

William  McKendree   

Lawner  Blackman  

William  Pattison  

Moses  Ashworth,  3  months  . . . 

Thomas  Trower  

Horatia  Barnes   

Nathan  Barnes   

Isaac  Lindsey  

Isaac  Quinn   

Lewis  Anderson  

James  Axley   

Moses  Black,  Dees'd,  6  months 

Thomas  Milligan  

Milton  Ladd   


2.  Cumberland  Destrict. 

Miles  Harper  

Elisha  W.  Bowman 

William  Vermillion  

Frederic  Stier  

Joseph  Bennett   

John  Lewis   

Zadock  B.  Thackston  . . 

John  Travise   

Thomas  Kirkman   

Samuel  Sellers  

Jacob  Turman   

William  Lewis   

John  Crag   

Thomas  Stilwell   

James  Gwinn,  3  months 


3.  Indianna  Destrict. 

Samuel  Parker  

Jesse  Walker   

Joseph  Oglesby,  9  months 

Abraham  Amos   

John  Crane   

Hector  Sanford   

Moses  Crume   

Josiah  Crawford   


80  00 
164  87 
75  25 
41  68 


887  80 


Defi- 
cient, 


$  25  00 

9^  no 

10 

00 

8 

00 

44 

00 

15  66 

41 

00 

1  00 

50 

00 

10  00 

45 

00 

5  00 

53 

00 

13  00 

40 

00 

40 

00 

40 

00 

66 

00 

26  00 

15 

00 

56 

00 

16  00 

508 

00 

136  66 

40  00 
12  70 
39  63 


122  48 
55  50 
92  50 
34  50 
41  69 
76  51 
99  78 
47  25 
25  00 


687  54 

62  50 
89  00 
60  00 
64  58 
71  00 
33  75 
89  00 
30  98 


500  81 


The  Journal  for  1809. 


165 


4.  Mississippi  Destrict. 


John  McClure   

Thomas  Heliums 
Jedediah  McMin  . 
Anthony  Houston 
Benjamin  Edge  . 
Isaac  McCown  . . 


5.  Kentucky  Destrict. 

James  Ward   

Eli  Truitt  

James  Blair   

Wm.  Burk   

Joshua  Oglesby,  6  months  . 

Edmond  Wilcox   

James  King  

Wm.  Winin   

John  Clingon  

Caleb  W.  Cloud  

Wm.  B.  Elgin  

George  Askin   

Henry  Mallory   , 

Peter  Cartwright,  6  months 

John  Watson  

Richard  Richards   

Sela  Pain   

Richard  Browning  , 

John  Henegar  


6.  Miami  Destrict. 

John  Sale  

Hezekiah  Shaw  . 

Wm.  Young  

Abbott  Goddard  . 
Joseph  Williams  . 
John  Collins  .... 
Benjamin  Lakin 
John  Johnston  . . 
Wm.  Houston  . . . 
John  Sinclair  . . . 
David  Young  


7.  Muskingum  Destrict. 

James  Quinn   , 

Ralph  Lotspiech   

John  Bowman  

John  Holmes  

Jacob  Young  

Thomas  Lasley  


Defi- 
cient. 


Appro- 
priated. 


32  00 
70  00 


30  00 


102  00     30  00 


oo 

4  U 

100 

26 

20 

26 

79 

54 

18 

00 

36 

58 

13 

58 

9 

33 

23 

34 

23 

34 

39 

00 

13 

00 

40 

00 

51 

00 

51 

00 

57 

67 

17 

07 

143 

00 

26 

00 

63 

00 

26 

00 

49 

23 

9  23 

52 

00 

12 

00 

34 

64 

820 

33 

124 

74 

27  00 
40  93 

32  00 
4  55 
4  55 

67  00 
67  77 

33  39 
20  84 
43  10 


1  00 


3  10 


341  13      4  10 


45 

35 

40 

25 

50 

60 

16 

60 

60 

00 

20 

00 

12 

00 

55 

00 

15 

00 

166 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Solomon  Langdon   

Wm.  Mitchel   

Robert  Cloud   

Thomas  Church,  6  months 


Paid  Volentine  Cook  $50 
It  being  a  Part  of  $75  due 
him  from  the  Conference 
Paid  William  Burk  in  full 
for  money  Paid  for  Print- 
ing Some  Pamphlets  to  be 
given  away  at  the  Request 
of  Conference   


Defi- 

Appro- 

cient. 

priated. 

58  39 

56  00 

16  00 

54  62 

14  62 

444  21 

82  22 

$50 


$20 


70 


Brought  up   $  85  40 

John  Johnston   10 

John  Watson    15 

Robert  Cloud    10 

Peter  Cartwright   15 

Jesse  Walker    15 

James  Quinn   10 


160  40 


Necessitious  Cases 

.  .$  10 

.  ,  9 

.  .  15 

Josiah  Crawford  .... 

.  .  10 

.  ,    36  40 

..  5 

85  40 


Yet  in  Reserve  for  Ex- 
traordinary Cases  $  99  00 

M.  Harper    5 

J.  Henagar   10 

H.  Shaw    15 

S.  Sellers    5 

J.  Quinn    15 

Wm.  Houston   4 

Thomas  Lasley    15 

Wm.  Lewis    10 

A.  Amos   5 

Wm.  Winins    10 

D.  Young   5 


99 

Whole  Amount  of  Deficiencies  $3,404  02 

Whole  Amount  of  Money  Appropriated   932  00 


Remaining  Deficiencies   $2,472  02 

Gained  by  Some  Mistake  in  not  Setting  Some  Money 

Brought  in   $     44  20 

The  Conference  Proceeded  to  receive  the  report  of  the 
Special  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  write  a  let- 
ter to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Deer  Creek 
Circuit  the  letter  reported  as  follows: 

Cincinnati,  October  6th,  A.D.,  1809. 
The  Western  Annual  Conference  Assembled  to  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  Deer  Creek  Circuit  Sendeth  Greeting. 
Dearly  Beloved  Brethren:  We  feel  ourselves  as  ever  united  to 


The  Journal  for  1800. 


1G7 


you  interested  in  your  happiness  &  while  we  are  engaged  in  pro- 
moting the  Salvation  of  mankind  in  general  permit  us  hereby  to 
Signify  our  unfeigned  Love  to  you  &  our  religious  desire  to  Assist 
you  in  every  case  (where  our  aid  is  thought  necessary)  in  adjust- 
ing any  differences  or  otherwise.  Dear  Brethren  You  are  (no 
doubt)  aware  that  Brothers  Scott  and  Martin  came  from  you  to 
us  for  the  adjustment  of  certain  differences.  We  in  due  respect  to 
you  &  them  have  considered  their  cases  &  have  done  the  best  we 
could  with  them;  but  finding  insurmountable  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  Setting  them  in  the  Annual  Conference  &  from  conversing 
with  them  do  find  them  disposed  to  adjust  the  existing  difficulties 
on  amicable  terms;  &  hoping  that  You  will  meet  them  in  the 
Spirit  of  the  Gospel,  each  imprest  with  the  propriety  of  doing  to 
others  as  you  would  they  should  do  unto  you  of  forgiving  even  as 
you  by  your  heavenly  Father  have  been  forgiven;  &  we  humbly 
advise  them  to>  return  to  you,  hoping  that  you  in  your  wisdom  will 
devise  &  execute  such  conciliatory  &  effectual  Measures  as  shall 
Ultimately  terminate  in  the  great,  the  Glorious  &  desirable  bless- 
ing of  peace  among  yourselves. 

Beloved  Brethren  we  hope  you  are  sufficiently  imprest  with  an 
idea  of  the  Necessity  of  an  union  in  the  Church  of  God;  We  do 
earnestly  hope  that  while  we  your  faithful  suffering  Itinerant 
Servants  are  engaged  in  spreading  the  good  news  of  Salvation  to 
the  end  of  the  earth  that  you  as  pillars  in  the  house  of  our  God 
and  Coworkers  together  with  us  will  do  all  you  can  to  feed  the 
flock  of  Christ  &  keep  them  together  in  the  bonds  of  Christian 
love. 

And  while  we  desire  that  you  may  amicably  &  Satisfactorily 
adjust  the  existing  difficulties  to  the  Salvation  of  the  Church  & 
the  glory  of  God.  Still  praying  for  your  present  &  future  happi- 
ness we  subscribe  ourselves  dear  brethren  your  most  affectionate 
friends  &  willing  servants  for  Christ's  sake. 

Satturday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

Bro.  Robt.  Cloud's  case  before  the  Conference  which 
was  brought  in  by  a  Committee  consisting  of  Ralph 
Lotspiech,  Thos.  Lasley,  &  William  Mitchell,  James 
Quinn  Presiding  Elder.  The  whole  of  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Committee  may  be  seen  by  refering  to  the  pa- 
pers, now  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary.  The  Confer- 
ence are  of  Opinion  that  the  charge  is  not  supported 
by  the  evidence  produced. 


168 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


William  Burke  proceeded  to  read  the  report  of  the 
Special  Committee  Appointed  to  examine  into  doc- 
trines— no  amendment  was  offered  neither  was  there 
any  opposition  the  question  was  called  for  &  it  passed 
with  only  few  exceptions  &  is  as  followeth: 

It  is  the  oppinion  of  your  Committee. 

I.  That  Original  Sin  is  corruption  of  the  nature  whereby  man  is 
far  gone  from  Original  righteousness  &  of  his  own  nature  in- 
clined to  evil  &  that  continually. 

II.  That  the  Savior  of  the  World  tasted  death  for  every  man 
that  all  (infants  not  excepted)  are  benefitted  by  Attonement, 
that  as  they  were  not  lost  in  Adam  by  a  voluntary  act  of  theirs, 
so  neither  is  a  voluntary  act  of  theirs  necessary  to  their  Salva- 
tion. 

III.  As  to  the  manner  of  Qualifying  infants  for  Heaven,  we 
pretend  not  to  know,  nor  are  we  able  to  say,  how  nearly,  or,  re- 
motely the  justification  of  an  infant  &  that  of  an  adult  are  con- 
nected or  how  to  get  out  of  one  into  the  other,  with,  or  without 
Sin,  to  us  these  knotty  Questions  do  not  appear  to  be  revealed, 
&  your  .Committee  humbly  conf  esseth  we  have  no  intuitive  knowl- 
edge of  these  things,  for  we  have  forgotten  if  we  ever  knew 
where  or  how  our  moral  Agency  or  accountability  took  place 
nor  do  we  know  how  it  was  with  ourselves  (much  less  every 
child  that  cometh  into  the  world)  a  minute  or  an  hour  before 
or  after  this  accountability  took  place,  therefore  to  attemp  an 
explanation  is  in  our  opinion  to  undertake  what  cannot  be  per- 
formed.  It  is  an  attempt  to  be  wise  above  what  is  written. 

Hence  we  conclude  that  the  proper  way  to  preach  the  Gospel 

is 

I.  To  preach  the  fall  of  man  as  it  is  held  forth  in  the  Scrip- 
tures &  illustrated  in  Mr.  Fletcher's  Unequalled  Appeal. 

II.  To  Set  forth  the  Attonement  in  its  full  Scriptural  extent 
as  we  believe  Messrs.  Wesley  &  Fletcher  have  done. 

And  when  circumstances  make  it  necessary  to  Apply  these 
Grand  doctrines  to  the  case  of  infants,  proceed  to  Shew  that  men 
are  to  be  judged  by  revelation  of  a  righteous  judgement  &  will 
Stand  acquitted  or  condemned  according  to  their  words  ivorks 
&  deeds  done  in  the  body  &  that  the  Law  does  not  take  cognis- 
ance of  the  words  works  or  deeds  of  infants  &  so  lay  the  foun- 
dation of  their  acquittal  &  leave  them  &  their  qualifications  for 
heaven  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful  Redeemer  &  where  Scripture 


The  Journal  for  1800. 


leave  them  &  so  keep  out  of  the  field  of  conjecture  which  fre- 
quently leads  to  dissentlon  disputation  &  Schism. 

But  when  we  apply  these  grand  truths  to  men  as  we  are 
taught  by  the  Gospel  to  do,  we  Should  Authoritatively  demand 
repentance  Faith  &  Holiness  in  all  their  relative  branches,  in 
connection  with  their  inseparable  &  proper  fruits.  The  Gospel 
being  our  Standard. 

A  rising  vote  being  taken  on  Several  particular 
Neighborhoods  requesting  the  next  Annual  Conference 
tlie  vote  being  taken  Shelby  obtained  it  with  the  num- 
ber of  33  votes  to  begin  Nov.  5th,  1809  to  be  held  at 
New  Chapel. 

Monday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

William  Houston  applied  to  the  Conference  for  Rev- 
ocation  of  his  Location  the  Conference  are  of  Opinion 
that  Said  Location  be  Kevoked. 

Caleb  W.  Cloud  proceeded  to  Read  a  Letter  ad- 
dressed To  the  Inhabetants  of  Cincinnatti  in  Answer 
to  a  Letter  Addresssed  by  them  to  the  Conference. 

The  Conference  are  of  Opinion  that  said  Letter  be 
Sent  to  them.  Lawner  Blackman  proceeded  to  Read 
Some  Statements  giveing  an  account  of  Moses  Black 
Decs'd.  The  Conference  are  of  Opinion  that  the  Said 
Account  be  Received  by  Striking  Out  the  Part  Re- 
specting Temporals.  It  is  the  Opinion  of  the  Confer- 
ence that  Moses  Black's  Widow  be  Considered  a  Neces- 
sitous Case. 

James  King  brought  forward  an  appeal  from  Ann 
Norwood  of  Fleming  Circuit  Respecting  a  Negro  she 
had  bought.  It  is  the  Opinion  of  the  Chair  that  the 
appeal  does  not  come  before  the  Conference  the  Vote 
being  taken  the  Conference  Concur'd  in  Opinion. 

Joseph  Benett  Requested  that  a  Recommendation  be 
given  him,  as  he  expects  to  go  to  N'  Jersey  next  Spring 
the  Conference  agree  that  such  a  Recommendation  be 
given  him. 


170 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Resolved  that  Bishop  McKendree  be  Alowed  to  take 
with  him  a  Preacher  to  the  S.  Carolina  Conference. 
Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  W.  McKendree. 

Note  10. — In  the  late  summer  of  1809  Bishop  Asbury,  travel- 
ing with  Martin  Boehm,  passed  through  Pennsylvania,  Western 
Virginia,  into  Ohio  to  meet  with  the  Western  Conference,  which 
was  to  convene  at  Cincinnati  on  September  30.  This  year  he  is 
riding  in  a  carriage,  but  the  roads  were  "disagreeable,"  and 
"While  tugging  forward"  in  the  Wills  Creek  bottom,  "crack 
went  the  breastband  and  crack  went  the  shaft."  At  Springfield 
he  preaches  to  four  hundred  people.  At  Zanesville,  "named 
after  Colonel  Zane,  who  so  kindly  entertained  us  at  Wheeling," 
Boehm  preached.  The  Bishop  on  September  3  preaches  at  the 
"elegant  new  court-house  in  New-Lancaster"  and  on  Saturday 
they  are  entertained  at  the  home  of  Doctor  Tiffin.  Asbury  is 
charmed  at  the  view  from  Mr.  Tiffin's  house,  "but  these  long 
talks  about  land  and  politics  suit  me  not;  I  take  little  interest 
in  either  subject:  O  Lord,  give  me  souls,  and  keep  me  holy!" 
He  travels  down  the  Valley  of  the  Little  and  Great  Miami  "oc- 
cupied by  New  Lights,  Shakers,  Methodists — and  sinners  to  be 
sure."  On  Sunday,  the  23rd  of  September,  he  speaks  at  the 
"new  chapel  in  Millford."  Monday  is  filled  with  reading  and 
writing.  Thursday  "Fair  Cincinnati  brought  us  up."  Here  he 
finds  the  Church  enlarged  and  the  society  increased.  Many  of 
the  preachers,  he  states,  will  be  absent,  evidently  because  of 
sickness.  The  Bishop  is  particularly  impressed  with  the  number 
of  camp  meetings  being  held  in  the  West.  "Muskingum  district 
will  have  four  camp-meetings,"  the  attendance  ranging  from 
one  to  three  thousand.  "In  Miami  district  seventeen  camp- 
meetings  in  the  year;  in  Scioto  circuit  four;  Hockhocking  two; 
Deer  Creek  two;  Mad  River  three;  Whitewater  two;  Cincin- 
nati two;  and  White  two;  .  .  .  seventeen  camp-meetings  for 
the  Indiana  district.  .  .  .  More  of  camp-meetings — I  hear  and 
see  the  great  effects  produced  by  them,  and  this  year  there  will 
be  more  than  ever."  On  the  Sabbath,  at  the  Conference,  Learner 
Blackman  preaches  at  nine  o'clock,  Bishop  McKendree  at  twelve, 
and  William  Burke  at  three.  There  are  three  thousand  people 
on  the  ground.  On  Sabbath,  October  8,  the  Conference  closed 
its  labors  and  the  "members  separated  on  Monday."  Bishop 
Asbury  and  his  party  depart,  going  by  way  of  Kentucky,  Ten- 


The  Journal  for  1809. 


171 


nessee,  and  over  the  mountains  Into  South  Carolina.  (Asbury's 
Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  273-278.) 

The  appointments  for  1809,  as  given  in  the  General  Minutes, 
were  as  follows: 

Holston  District.    Fredrick  Sticr,  p.  Elder. 

Holston,  James  Axley,  John  Brown. 
Saltville,  James  King. 
Nollichuckie,  William  Pattison. 
French  Broad,  Thomas  Trower. 
Clinch,  William  B.  Elgin. 
Powell's  Valley,  Lewis  Anderson. 
Carter's  Valley,  John  Bowman. 
Tennessee  Valley,  William  Young. 

Cumberland  District.   Learner  Blackinan,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  Thomas  Heliums,  Jas.  Gwinn. 

Red  River,  Isaac  McKowen. 

Roaring  River,  Jacob  Turman. 

Livingston,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Hartford,  John  Cragg. 

Duck  River,  John  Lewis. 

Elk,  Josiah  Crawford. 

Dixon,  Thomas  Stilwell. 

Henderson,  William  Lewis. 

Flint,  Jedediah  McMinn. 

Kentucky  District.    James  Ward,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone  and  Fleming,  Anthony  Houston,  Eli  Truitt. 

Licking,  Abbott  Goddard. 

Lexington,  Milton  Ladd,  Henry  Mallory. 

Hinkstone,  Richard  Richards,  Samuel  Heliums. 

Lexingtontown,  Caleb  W.  Cloud. 

Sandy  River,  Benjamin  Edge. 

Green  River  District.    William  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Green  River,  John  Travis. 
Barren,  Zadok  B.  Thackston. 
Wayne,  John  Watson. 
Cumberland,  Richard  Browning. 
Danville,  Charles  Holliday. 
Salt  River,  Henry  McDaniel. 
Shelby,  James  Blair,  Samuel  West. 
Silver  Creek,  Sela  Paine. 


172  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Mississippi  District.    John  McChire,  P.  Elder. 

Natchez,  William  Houston,  Miles  Harper. 
Wilkinson,  Isaac  Quinn. 
Claiborne,  Samuel  Sellers. 
Appalousas,  John  Henninger. 
Washataw,  Hezekiah  Shaw. 

Indiana  District.   Samuel  Parker,  P.  Elder. 

Illinois,  Abraham  Amos. 

Missouri,  John  Crane. 

Maramack,  David  Young,  Thos.  Wright. 

Cold  Water,  Isaac  Lindsey. 

Cape  Girardeau,  Jesse  Walker. 

Vincennes,  William  Winans. 

Miami  District.   John  Sale,  P.  Elder. 

Cincinnati,  Solomon  Langdon,  Moses  Crume. 
Mad  River,  Saul  Henkle,  Hector  Sanford. 
Scioto,  George  Askin,  Alex'r  Cummins. 
Deer  Creek,  John  Collins,  Francis  Travis. 
Hockhocking,  Benj.  Lakin,  John  Manley. 
White  Oak,  John  Johnson. 

White  Water,  Thomas  Nelson,  Samuel  H.  Thompson. 

Muskingum  District.   James  Quinn,  P.  Elder. 

Fairfield,  Ralph  Lotspiech. 
Will's  Creek,  James  B.  Finley. 
West  Wheeling,  Jacob  Young,  William  Lamb  den. 
Marietta,  John  Holmes. 
Little  Kanawha,  William  Mitchell. 
Guyandott,  Joseph  Bennett. 
Letart  Falla,  John  Clingan. 
Knox,  Robert  Cloud. 
Thomas  Lasley  travels  with  Bishop  McKendree  this  year. 


XL 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 
BEGUN  AND  HELD  AT  THE  NEW  CHAPEL  IN 
SHELBY  CTY,  NOVR.  1,  1810.11 

Members  op  Conference. 
Those  marked  *  are  absent. 


Francis  Asbury,  Bishop 

Richard  Browning* 

William  McKendree,  Bishop 

James  Blair 

Frederick  Stier 

Sela  Payne 

James  Axley 

John  McClure* 

William  Pattison 

William  Houston* 

Thomas  T rower* 

Miles  Harper* 

William  B.  Elgin 

Isaac  Quinn* 

Lewis  Anderson 

Samuel  Sellars 

John  Bowman* 

John  Hennegar* 

William  Young 

Hezekiah  Shaw* 

Lawner  Blackman 

Samuel  Parker 

Thomas  Heliums 

Abraham  Amos* 

James  Gwinn 

John  Crane 

Isaac  McCown 

David  Young 

Jacob  Turman 

Isaac  Lindsey 

Peter  Cartwright 

Jesse  Walker* 

John  Graffs: 

William  Winans 

John  Lewis 

John  Sale 

Josiah  Crawford 

Solomon  Langdon 

Thos.  Stilwell 

Moses  Crume 

William  Lewis* 

Saul  Hinkle 

Jedediah  McMinn 

Hector  Sanford* 

Thos.  Kirkman 

John  Collins 

James  Ward 

Benjamin  Lakin* 

Anthony  Houston 

John  Johnston 

Eli  Truit 

James  Quinn 

Abbott  Goddard* 

Ralph  Lotspeich 

Milton  Ladd 

William  Lamden 

Henry  Mallory 

John  Holmes* 

Richard  Richards 

William  Mitchell 

174 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Members  of  the  Conference  (Continued). 

Caleb  W.  Cloud  John  Clingon 

Benjamin  Edge  Robert  Cloud 

William  Burk  Thos.  Lasley 

John  Travis  Elisha  W.  Bowman* 

Zadoek  B.  Thackston* 

Thursday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

William  Burk  Secretary  d  Thos.  Stilwell  Assistant. 

On  Motion  resolved  that  the  Conference  meet  at  9 
Ocloek.  Resolved  that  we  adjourn  at  Twelve  &  meet 
again  at  half  after  one  &  half  after  4  Ocloek.  The 
Conference  proceeded  to  elect  by  Ballott  a  Committee 
of  Appropriations.  The  folowing  persons  were  elected 
(Viz)  Lawner  Blackman,  John  Sale  &  Samuel  Parker. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  by  Ballott  a  Com- 
mittee to  adjust  the  book  accounts.  The  following 
persons  were  duly  elected  (Viz)  T.  Stilwell,  William 
B.  Elgin  &  James  King. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  by  Recommenda- 
tions those  who  came  to  be  received  on  trial  as  travel- 
ing Preachers.    The  following  persons  were  received: 

(1)  Cumberland  District. 

1.  John  McFarland  from  Levingston  Circuit. 

2.  Samuel  King  from  Goose  Creek  Circuit. 

3.  John  Page  from  Goose  Creek  Circuit. 

Thursday  Evening  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  receive  the  following 
persons  by  recommendations  from  Cumberland  District: 

4.  John  Phipps  from  Hartford  Circuit. 

5.  Thomas  Kirkman  Henderson  Circuit.  In  page  66 
it  may  be  seen  that  Thomas  Kirkman  was  dropt  when 
he  had  served  out  his  probation,  the  Conference  are  of 
opinion  that  as  lie  has  travelled  Six  Months  in  the 
present  Year  he  be  admitted  into  full  Connection  & 


The  -Journal  for  1810. 


elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon  provided  he  be  ap- 
proved of  when  examined  before  the  Conference. 

(2)  Holston  District. 

1.  Baker  Prather  from  Garters  Valley  Circuit. 

(3)  Muskingum  Destrict. 

1.  John  Strange  from  Knox  Circuit. 

2.  James  Dixon  from  little  Kanawha  Circuit. 

3.  Jamjes  McMahan  from  little  Kanawha  Circuit. 

4.  Jacob  Mills  from  West  Wheeling  Circuit. 

5.  Michael  Ellis  from  West  Wheeling  Circuit. 

(4)  Indianna  District. 

1.  Thomas  Wright  from  the  Illinois  Circuit. 

2.  Joseph  Piggott  from  the  Cold  Water  Circuit. 

(5)  Kentucky  District. 

1.  James  G.  Leach  from  the  Lexington  Circuit. 

2.  Vivion  Daniel  from  the  Licking  Circuit. 

3.  Joseph  Haines  from  the  Limestone  Circuit. 

4.  Caleb  J.  Taylor  from  the  Limestone  Circuit. 

(6)  Miami  District. 

1.  Stephen  Timmons  from  the  Deer  Creek  Circuit  for- 
merly a  Travelling  Preacher  Local  Several  Years — in 
Elders  Orders  but  is  admitted  so  as  to  graduate  to 
Membership. 

2.  Isaac  Tavey  from  the  Deer  Creek  Circuit. 

•  3.  Walter  Griffith  from  the  White  Oak  Circuit. 

Friday  Morning  Bishop  KcKendree  in  the  Chair. 

John  Sale  from  the  Committee  of  Appropriations 
haveing  progressed  in  forming  Rules  for  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Sittings  of  the  Annual  Conference  Report- 
ed. The  Conference  Proceeded  to  receive  the  report 
Rule  by  Rule,  on  the  final  Reading  the  Conference  Re- 
ceived the  whole  of  the  rules  as  follows: 

Rules  by  Which  the  Western  Annual  Conference  Shall  Be 
Governed  in  Their  Sittings. 

1.  The  President  shall  see  that  all  the  business  appertaining 


176  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

to  the  Conference  be  brought  forward  aranged  &  conducted  in  a 
proper  manner  as  specified  in  the  Discipline. 

2.  He  shall  preserve  order  in  all  the  proceedings,  he  shall 
keep  the  Speaker  to  the  question  or  call  him  to  order  when  in 
his  Judgment  there  is  a  departure  from  it. 

3.  He  shall  decide  in  all  questions  of  order,  nevertheless  any 
member  may  appeal  from  his  Judgment  to  the  Conference  &  in 
such  case  the  appeal  shall  be  decided  without  debate. 

4.  He  shall  plainly  state  every  question  &  put  the  same  to 
vote  whenever  called  for  unless  the  previous  question  be  called 
for  which  shall  always  be  taken  without  debate. 

5.  Every  question  or  resolution  moved  &  seconded  shall  be 
duly  considered  debated  &  put  to  vote  unless  otherwise  disposed 
of  according  to  order. 

6.  Every  speaker  on  any  subject  shall  rise  &  address  the  Presi- 
dent &  shall  not  be  interrupted  while  speaking  unless  he  depart 
from  the  question  or  from  the  rules  &  decorum  of  the  Confer- 
ence. 

7.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  speak  more  than  twice  on 
the  same  question  nor  more  than  15  minutes  at  once  unless  he 
first  obtained  liberty  from  the  Conference  which  shall  be  de- 
cided without  debate. 

8.  If  in  debate  one  member  misrepresent  the  arguments  of 
another  the  member  who  is  misrepresented  shall  have  liberty  to 
rise  &  explain  &  the  other  shall  be  silent  till  such  explanation 
be  given. 

9.  When  any  member  conceives  that  another  is  out  of  order 
he  may  call  the  attention  of  the  President  to  the  case. 

10.  In  any  question  when  the  President  may  think  proper 
from  motives  of  delicasy  he  may  resign  the  Chair  &  call  any 
member  of  Conference  to  the  Chair  during  the  consideration  of 
such  question  or  questions. 

11.  When  speaking  each  member  shall  have  due  regard  to 
the  feelings  of  his  Brethren  by  avoiding  irritating  language  & 
personal  reflections. 

12.  No  Question  shall  be  introduced  while  another  is  under 
consideration  Nevertheless  a  motion  for  postponement  shall  be 
considered  in  order  &  the  Vote  taken  without  debate. 

13.  The  Secretary  shall  be  chosen  Annually  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Conference. 

14.  He  shall  every  morning  at  the  opening  of  the  Conference 
read  the  proceedings  of  the  preceeding  day. 

15.  He  shall  take  charge  of  the  journals;  all  the  Conference 


The  Journal  for  1810. 


Ill 


papers  Keep  them  safe  &  see  that  they  are  conveyed  to  the  place 
of  its  next  sitting. 

16.  He  shall  allow  no  person  or  persons  to  take  any  copy  of 
papers  or  extracts  from  the  Journals  of  Conference  without  first 
obtaining  liberty  from  the  Conference. 

17.  No  member  shall  be  absent  in  time  of  the  sitting  of  Con- 
ference without  first  obtaining  leave  of  absence. 

18.  At  the  close  of  every  sitting  the  Secretary  shall  report  the 
Absentees. 

19.  That  no  preacher  shall  bring  any  charge  against  any  mem- 
ber of  Conference  untill  he  has  first  given  information  of  the 
same  either  by  letter  or  otherwise  so  as  the  accused  may  have 
an  opportunity  of  preparing  for  defence. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  finish  the  Answer  to 
the  first  Question,  Who  are  admitted  on  trial? 
(G)  Miami  Destrict. 

4.  Marcus  Lindsey  from  the  Cincinnatti  Circuit. 

5.  Daniel  Fraley  from  the  Scioto  Circuit. 
(7)  Green  River  District. 

1.  Thomas  A.  King  from  the  Barren  Circuit. 

2.  George  A.  Calbert  from  the  Barren  Circuit. 

3.  Samuel  S.  Griffin  from  the  Danville  Circuit. 

4.  Matthew  Nelson  from  the  Danville  Circuit. 

5.  Nathan  Pullum  from  the  Danville  Circuit. 

Friday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendrbe  in  the  Chair. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  answer  of  the  Sec- 
ond Question. 

The  several  cases  of  those  to  be  continued  were  in- 
spected before  the  Conference  &  the  following  persons 
were  continued,  James  B.  Finley,  2  Henry  McDaniel-  3 
Thomas  Nelson  4  John  Manley  5  Samuel  West  6  Fran- 
cis Travis  7  Alexander  Cummins  8  John  Brown  9  Sam- 
uel Heliums  10  Charles  Holliday  &  11  Samuel  H. 
Thompson. 

The   Conference   proceeded   to   the  examination  of 
those  who  were  to  be  admitted  into  full  connection: 
12 


178  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Present  William  Young  examined  &  admitted  into  full 
connection,  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Saturday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

The  case  of  John  Bowman  from  the  Holston  District 
who  had  rode  out  the  time  of  his  probation  upon  strict 
examination  respecting  his  gifts  and  Qualifications  the 
Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  he  be  discontinued. 

The  Conference  Continued  to  Answer  the  3  question, 
Who  are  admitted  into  full  Connection?  Present  Wil- 
liam Winans  examined  &  admitted  into  full  connection 
likewise  Elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

John  Lewis  present  examined  &  admitted  into  full 
connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Richard  Richards  present  examined  and  admitted 
into  full  connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a 
Deacon. 

William  B.  Elgin  present  examined  &  admitted  into 
full  connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Dea- 
con. 

Lewis  Anderson  present  examined  &  admitted  into 
full  connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Dea- 
con. 

John  Johnson  present  examined  &  admitted  into  full 
connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Isaac  Lindsey  present  examined  &  admitted  into  full 
connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Moses  Crume  present  examined  &  admitted  into  full 
connection  having  been  a  Local  Preacher  for  a  number 
of  years  &  Likewise  having  travelled  two  years  in  Dea- 
cons orders  the  Conference  are  of  oppinion  that  he  be 
elected  to  the  Office  of  an  Elder  &  they  accordingly 
elect  him. 

Saturday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

Eli  Trnitt  present  examined  &  admitted  into  full  con- 
nection Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon, 


The  Journal  for  1810. 


170 


James  Blair  present  examined  &  ad  mi  Med  into  full 
connection  Likewise  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

James  Guinn  present  examined  &  admitted  into  Pull 
connection  having  stood  two  years  on  the  Minutes  & 
in  Deacons  orders  6  years  the  Conference  are  of  oppin- 
ion  that  he  be  elected  to  the  office  of  an  Elder  &  they 
accordingly  elect  him. 

William  Lambden  examined  &  admitted  into  full  con- 
nection &  elect  him  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

James  Quinn  Keported  from  the  Special  Committee 
appointed  in  the  case  of  McElyea — by  reference  to 
page  71  it  may  be  seen  that  Daniel  McElyea  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  as  a  Travelling  Preacher  the  report  of 
the  Committee  as  follows: 

We  the  Committee  appointed  to  report  in  the  Case  of  Daniel 
McElyea  are  of  oppinion  that  considering  his  immoralities  that 
he  be  discontinued  from  among  the  traveling  preachers. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
Recommendations  of  the  Local  Preachers  applying  for 
Deacons  orders. 

Kentucky  District. 

The  case  of  James  Cox  before  the  Conference  accept 
the  recommendation.  Christopher  Monack,  Michael 
Ghohegan,  John  Faulknor,  Benjamin  Vaupett,  &  Henry 
Brenton  whose  recommendations  were  admitted. 

The  Conference  Proceeded  to  take  the  accounts  of 
what  the  Preachers  had  received  in  their  several  Cir- 
cuits. 

Monday  Morning  Bishop  McKendreb  in  the  Chair. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  appoint  a  Committee  of 
Review  Bishop  Asbury  nominated  the  following  (Viz) 
James  Guin,  James  Quinn,  J.  Collins,  Solomon  Lang- 
don  &  Milton  Ladd  they  were  elected  by  the  Conference. 

James  Ward  offered  an  Amendment  to  the  Rules — 
the  Conference  Adopted  the  said  Amendment, 


ISO 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


The  Conference  Proceed  to  review  the  accounts  of 
the  Presiding  Elders,  the  Conference  accepted  the  Ac- 
count. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  review  what  the  Preach- 
ers had  collected  from  their  several  Districts  &  circuits. 

Miami  District  Presiding  Elder   $10 

Solomon  Langdon  Deer  Creek  Circuit   $  2 

Total   $12 

Indianna  District  Samuel  Paraker.   3  50 

The  Conference  Proceeded  to  collect  what  the  Preach- 
ers Subscribed  last  year  Amounting  to  §62.40. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  draft  on  the 
Book  Concern  for  §300  Likewise  on  the  Charter  Fund 
for  |150. 

The  Conference  then  resumed  the  business  of  accept- 
ing the  recommendations  of  the  Local  Preachers  for  the 
office  of  Deacons  James  Star,  James  Smith,  John 
Green,  Joseph  Thrap,  David  Smutthers,  Thos.  Cunning- 
ham, Robert  Carter,  James  Stallord  (?)  Joshua  Walls, 
Lewellwyn  Leggatt,  Alexander  McDonolds,  Enoch 
James,  Robert  Baker,  Thomas  Jones,  Thomas  Moore, 
David  Hodges,  John  Taylor,  Wesley  White,  Robert 
Dougherty,  Thomas  Exell,  Larry  Killibrew  &  Benjamin 
Proctor. 

Monday  Evening  Bishop  McKexdree  in  the  Chair. 

The  Conference  Recommend  to  the  Committee  an  ex- 
amination of  the  reformed  Pastor. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
Deacons  Characters.  The  following  persons  were  ex- 
amined John  Hennegar,  John  Cragg,  William  Lewis — 
located,  Jedediah  McMinn — located,  Jacob  Turman, 
William  Mitchell  &  in  Consequence  of  a  Mission  he  was 
elected  to  the  Office  of  an  Elder — Josiah  Crawford  & 
T.  Stilwell. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine  those  who  were 


The  Journal  for  1S10. 


181 


eligible  to  the  office  of  Elders.  The  following  persons 
were  elected  to  the  office  of  Elders,  Henry  Ma  I  lory, 
James  King — located,  Abbott  Goddard,  Sela  Paine, 
Hector  Sanford — located,  John  Travis,  Isaac  Quinn, 
John  Clingon,  John  Crane,  Thomas  Tower  &  Saul 
Henkle. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  Fix  the  place  of  the  Sit- 
ting of  the  next  Western  Annual  Conference,  the  places 
proposed  Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,  Lexington,  Ebenezar, 
it  was  determined  by  Ballott  Cincinnati  obtained  it  by 
the  number  of  36  votes  to  begin  October  1st,  1811. 
Tuesday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

The  character  of  Milton  Ladd  before  the  Conference. 
The  Conference  are  of  oppinion  the  (that)  he  'be  elect- 
ed to  the  office  of  an  Elder.  It  was  moved  by  James 
King  and  James  Axley  that  the  case  of  John  Page  be 
Reconsidered  the  Conference  determine  in  the  Negative. 

Lawner  Blackmail  proceeded  to  Report  from  the  Com- 
mitte  of  Appropriation. 

The  Conference  are  of  opinion  that  the  Report  be  Re- 
ceived as  Follows: 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Appropriations. 

(Viz)  Deficencies  $2,541.77    2,541  77 

To  Meet  the  above  Deficencies 

Draft  on  the  Book  Concern  $300.00    300  00 

Draft  on  the  Chartered  Fund  $150.00    150  00 

Extra  Collections  $108.75    108  75 


Insolvent   

Appropriations  Made  as  follows  (Viz) 


558  75 
1,983  02 


Deficen- 
cies. 
D.  Cnt. 


Appropria- 
tions. 


D.  Cnt. 
25  00 
25  00 
10  00 


Bishop  Asbury  . . . 
Bishop  McKendree 
Henry  Boehm 

John  Manley  

Samuel  Parker  . . . 

Samuel  West  

Frederick  Stier  . . 


31  16 

64  87V2 


1  50 


25  87  V2 


182 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Francis  Travis  

Lawner  Blackman  

Charles  Holliday   

Jc-siah  Crawford   

William  Michel   

James  Ward  

James  Quinn   

John  Sale   

William  Pattisen  

Peter  Cartwright  

Anthony  Houston   

Benjamin  Edge  

James  Axley   

Alexander  Cummins  

Thomas  Heliums   

Caleb  W.  Cloud  

Zadock  B.  Thackston  . . . 

Richard  Browning   

William  Houston  

David  Young   

Jessee  Walker  

Miles  Harper   

John  Brown   

Samuel  Sellars   

William  Young   

Abraham  Amos  

William  Winans   

Solomon  Langdon   

Benjamin  Lakin  

John  Collins   

Ralph  Lotspiech   

Samuel  Heliums   

John  Cragg   , 

Robert  Cloud  

William  Lewis,  6  months 
Samuel  H.  Thompson  . . . 

Thomas  Lasley   

John  Holmes   

John  Henager   

Jedediah  McMinn   

Jacob  Turman   

James  King  

Thomas  Stilwell   

Henry  Mallory   

Abbott  Goddard   

Sela  Pain   

Hezekiah  Shaw   

Hector  Sanford   

Milton  Ladd   

John  Travice   

Isaac  Quinn   


!  Deficen- 

cies. 
D.  Cnt. 
29  00 

78 
66  23 
13  00 


Appropria- 
tions. 
D.  Cnt. 


6  43 
28  32 
24  87% 
8  15 
120  00 
19  00 
43  00 


100  00 


79  54 
104  49 

70*66 

150  00 

26  66 


20  00 

20*95 

68  82% 
62  32 


23  53 
50  00 
85  81 
101  70 
48  00 
50  00 


40  50 


15  41 
12  00 

25*06 


6  00 
33  07y2 


40  00 

3*66 
2*6*66 

26*50 

30*66 

70  00 


10  00 
5  81 

22  70 
8  00 

10  00 


50 


The  Journal  for  1810. 


183 


John  Clingon   

John  Crane   

Thomas  Trower   

Saul  Hinkle   

James  B.  Finley   

Henry  McDaniel   

Thomas  Nelson   

Lewis  Anderson   

John  Lewis,  6  months  

Isaac  McCown   

Richard  Richards   

William  B.  Elgin   

Isaac  Lindsey   

Moses  Crume   

Eli  Truitt  

James  Blair  

James  Guinn  

Thomas  Kirkman,  6  months 


We  find  on  examination  that  Bishop  Asbury 
has  Received  at  each  Conference  $25  Mak- 
ing in  the  whole  

Expended  from  the  Western  A.  Conference 
1810  To  the  Present  Conference  1811  

Also  Bishop  McKendree  Received  $25  from 
Each  Conference  amounting  to  

Expended  from  the  W.  A.  Conference  1810  to 
the  Present  W.  A.  Conference  1811  


Remaining  in  the  Hands  of  the  Committee. . . 


How  applied  To  E.  W.  Bowman  

Wm.  Burk   

To  Harris  for  McEkelyea  

William  Lewis  5  Benjamin  Edge  5  

Sela  Pain  10  Jessee  Walker  10  

Valentine  Cook  10  Thos  Lasley  5  , 

William  Winans  10  Wm  Michel  12.23    22  23 


Defleen- 

cies. 
D.  Cnt. 
40  00 
60  00 
5  00 

56  00 
87  86 

120  00 
30  00 

5  00 
32  25 
34  63 
11  75 
10  00 
63  20 
70  00 
40  00 

1  46 

57  00 

58  12 


Appropria- 
tions. 

D.  Cnt. 


200 

00 

223 

70 

200 

00 

125  52*4 

132 

23 

40 

00 

20 

00 

5 

00 

10 

00 

20 

00 

15 

00 

22 

23 

132 

23 

On  motion  made  by  William  Burk  that  a  Special 
Oommitte  be  appointed  in  a  ease  of  delicasy  Respecting 
eJames  Blair,  William  Burk  proceeded  to  Nominate 
Robert  Cloud,  Moses  Crume,  and  Eli  Truitt  the  Confer- 
ence concured  in  the  Nomination. 

The  Conference  proceeded  in  the  Examination  of 
the  Charrecters  of  the  Elders,.  James  Ward,  Anthony 


184  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Houston,  Caleb  W.  Cloud,  Zadock  B.  Thackston  and 
Richard  Browning  obtained  Locations,  Milton  Ladd 
moved  for  a  Cirtificate  of  Recommendation  to  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference,  the  Conference  are  of  Opinion  that 
Said  Recommendation  be  given  him.  John  McClure 
Requested  by  Letter  that  the  Conference  would  grant 
him  a  Location,  the  Conference  are  of  opinion  the 
(that)  he  be  placed  among  the  Superanuated,  and  that 
a  letter  be  drawn  up  by  the  Financing  Committe  and 
Sent  to  him. 

Frederick  Stire  examined  but  some  charges  being 
Exibetted  against  him  by  James  Guinn  a  Committe  is 
appointed  to  hear  the  Charges,  the  Committe  as  fol- 
lows, John  Sale,  Saul  Hinkle,  Solomon  Langdon,  James 
Quinn  and  John  Collins. 

Robert  Cloud  examined  and  as  some  Charges  ly 
against  him  by  James  Quinn  it  is  thought  proper  to 
appoint  a  Committe,  and  the  following  are  appointed, 
James  Guinn,  John  Sale,  Saul  Hinkle,  Solomon  Lang- 
don, and  John  Collins. 

The  Conference  Proceeded — an  Appeal  before  the 
Conference  by  Jacob  Addams  who  has  been  expelled 
at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  held  in  Lexington 
Circuit  October  17th  1810  for  Purchasing  a  Negro  wom- 
an and  child  with  Speculative  motives,  the  Conference 
decide  against  him  in  favor  of  what  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conference  had  done. 

Wednesday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

James  Blair  moved  that  for  convenience  William 
Lamdin  should  be  appointed  to  take  the  place  of  Rob- 
ert Cloud  on  the  Special  Committee  who  have  been  ap- 
pointed to  try  his  case,  the  Conference  voted  in  favor  of 
the  motion. 

James  Ward  laid  before  the  Conference  a  petition 
forwerded  by  the  Local  Preachers  praying  that  they 


The  Journal  for  1810. 


is:, 


may  (?)  Elders  orders,  the  Conference  arc  <><'  opinion 
that  it  be  laid  over  for  further  consideration. 

Milton  Ladd  from  the  Committe  <>f  Review  proceeded 
to  Reporl  as  Car  as  they  had  progressed  on  duely  Ex- 
amining, Bareblows  &c,  are  of  an  opinion  that  it  should 
be  discountenanced,  approved  by  the  Conference. 

2nd  Examined  a  Shock  to  Shakerism.  are  of  opinion 
that  it  contains  Some  Sound  arguments  &c  but  that  it 
Should  not  be  Patronised  by  the  Conference,  The  Con- 
ference of  opinion  that  the  Shock  to  Shakerism,  So 
far  as  the  Sample  is  before  them  contains  Some  Sound 
arguments,  William  Burk  Motioned  that  the  Commit te 
of  Revieu  address  the  Author  with  a  Respectable  Note. 

3rd  Examined  a  Manuscript  on  the  subject  of  Slav- 
ery, are  of  Opinion  that  Contains  Nothing  New,  the 
Conference  are  of  opinion  that  a  Respectful  Note  be 
addressed  to  the  Author  advising  him  not  to  Print  it. 

Eli  Truitt  one  of  the  Committe  in  the  case  of  James 
Blair  moved  that  two  more  be  appointed  to  assist  with 
them,  Henry  Mallory  and  Ralph  Lotspiech  Nominated 
and  Elected. 

Caleb  W.  Cloud  Moved  for  Readmition  as  Supernum- 
ary  the  Conference  Readmit  him. 

Wednesday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the 
Chair. 

The  Presedent  advise  that  two  fast  days  be  appointed 
for  the  next  year,  the  Conference  Vote  that  they  be 
fixed  on  the  third  Friday  in  June  and  first  Friday  in 
October. 

Bishop  McKendree  moved  that  he  obtain  the  previ- 
ledge  of  a  Coppy  of  the  rules  of  the  Annual  Conference 
and  a  Coppy  of  the  Slave  Rule.  Carried  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

Thirsday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 
Richard  Browning  applied  by  letter  for  a  Location 


186  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

the  Conference  the  Conference  [sic]  granted  him  said 
Location. 

James  Ward  moved  for  Readmition  the  Conference 
Readmit  him. 

Bishop  McKendree  brought  forward  the  address  of 
the  Local  Preachers  laid  before  the  Conference  yester- 
day to  be  taken  up  and  considered,  Lawner  Blackman 
accordingly  Proceeded  to  read  the  Address,  Solomon 
Langdon  one  of  the  Committe  who  was  appointed  in 
the  case  of  F.  Stier  Moved  for  Postponing  the  consid- 
eration of  the  Address,  until  they  Should  Report,  the 
Address  postponed. 

John  Sale  Proceeded  to  read  the  Report  &C,  as  fol- 
lows the  Case  of  Frederick  Stier: 

As  their  ware  some  Complaints  from  the  Cumberland  Des- 
trict,  the  Complaints  were  before  a  Committe  consisting  of  John 
Sale,  Solomon  Langdon,  James  Quinn,  John  Collins  and  Saul 
Hinkle  and  was  agetated  before  the  Conference  Nearly  Half  a 
day.  F.  Stiers  made  Concessions  which  gave  the  Conference 
Satisfaction  and  the  Parties  agree  Amicably  to  Settle  which  was 
done  in  a  Conference  capacity. 

Thirsday  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  in  the  Chair. 

John  Collins  moved  that  the  Case  of  Robert  Cloud 
be  brought  from  the  committe,  and  that  it  come  before 
the  Conference,  Carried  in  the  affirmative. 

The  Address  of  the  Local  Preachers  before  the  Con- 
ference— Lawner  Blackman  moved  that  the  Local  Breth- 
ern  who  sent  the  Address  be  answered  as  follow  (Viz) 
We  have  thought  proper  to  Lay  over  your  address  for 
more  Mature  Consideration  at  our  next  Annual  Con- 
ference when  we  Shall  Choose  our  delegates  for  the 
Next  General  Conference  Seconded  by  Samuel  Parker. 
The  Conference  Voted  in  favor  of  the  Motion. 

William  Burk  Motioned  that  a  Letter  be  addressed 
to  the  Presedent  whose  name  is  Signed  to  the  Local 


The  Journal  for  1810. 


187 


Preachers  address,  and  the  Conference  are  of  opinion 
that  Samuel  Parker  and  Caleb  W.  Cloud  be  a  Con* 
mitte  to  draw  up  Said  Letter. 

Eli  Truitt  Reported  from  the  Committe  appointed 
in  the  Case  of  James  Blair,  and  are  of  Opinion  That  he 
be  Severly  Reproved  from  the  Chair  William  Burk 
Moved  that  the  word  Severely  be  Struck  out  the  Con- 
ference approve  the  Motion  the  Report  amended  as  fol- 
lows (Viz.) 

We  the  Committe  appointed  to  Examine  into  the  Case  of  J. 
Blair  are  of  opinion  from  the  face  of  the  Evidence  that  he  has 
been  guilty  of  imprudent  Conduct  but  their  are  so  many  Pal- 
liating Circumstances  that  we  are  of  Opinion  that  he  did  not  So 
act  designedly  and  give  it  as  our  opinion  that  he  shall  be  Repre- 
manded  before  the  Conference  by  the  Presedent  and  be  advised 
to  act  with  more  Caution  for  the  future.  Signed  in  behalf  of 
the  Committe.  Eli  Truett. 

The  Special  Committe  appointed  to  write  an  address 
to  the  Local  Preachers  thro  their  Presedent  proceeded 
to  read  the  address  with  an  amendment  the  Conference 
approve  of  Said  Address. 

The  Character  of  F.  Stier  Examined  before  the  Con- 
ference. 

The  Case  of  Robert  Cloud  before  the  Conference.  It 
was  moved  and  Seconded  that  it  be  laid  over  to  the 
Next  Annual  Conference.    Carried  in  the  affirmative. 

On  motion  Resolved  that  a  Committe  be  appointed 
to  take  evedence  and  Prepare  the  business  for  next 
A  nnual  Conference. 

Motioned  that  Robert  Cloud  appoint  one  and  the 
Conference  one.    Carried  in  the  affirmative. 

Solomon  Langdon  Nominated  by  R.  Cloud.  The  Con- 
ference Voted  for  the  Assistant  Preacher  of  Fairfield 
Circuit  as  the  other  Except  R.  Cloud  Should  be  ap- 
pointed to  that  Circuit,  and  in  that  Case  the  Presedent 
Elder  Shall  appoint  one.  The  Character  of  Robert 
Cloud  examined. 


188 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  V?est. 


The  Connnitte  appointed  for  the  inspection  of  Books 
&c,  Milton  Ladd  proceeded  to  read  a  note  directed  to 
B.  Whitson  2nd  a  Note  to  Dr.  Clarke  on  his  Shock  to 
Shakerisni. 

Lawner  Blackman  from  the  Committe  of  Appropria- 
tions Proceeded  to  Read  an  address  which  was  directed 
to  be  sent  to  John  McClure.  Received  without  amend- 
ment. 

The  Notes  to  B.  Whitson  and  Dr.  Clarke  Approved 
&c, 

Signed  in  and  by  order  of  the  Conference. 
William  Burk,  Secretary.  W.  McKexdree. 

Note  11. — Again  in  1810  Bishop  Asbury  travels  -to  the  West- 
ern Conference  through  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  down  into  Ken- 
tucky. At  Frankfort  he  finds  "elegant  accommodations  pro- 
vided for  those  who  make  the  laws,  and  those  who  break  them; 
but  there  is  no  house  of  God."  He  preaches  at  Shelbyville  in 
the  courthouse.  He  finds  the  Methodists  all  for  camp-meetings, 
while  "the  Baptists  are  for  public  baptizing."  On  November  1, 
which  is  Thursday,  he  notes  that  Conference  began  in  great 
peace  and  good  order,  and  that  "there  were  twenty-six  admit- 
ted." On  Sunday,  the  4th,  Bishop  McKendree  preached,  while 
Bishop  Asbury  exhorted.  After  the  election  of  McKendree  to 
the  episcopacy  he  seemed  more  and  more  to  assume  the  heavier 
duties,  especially  in  the  Western  Conference. 

Bishop  Asbury  came  to  this  session  of  the  Conference  in  what 
he  calls  a  "sulky."  At  the  close  of  the  Conference  he  sold  the 
"sulky"  and  purchased  a  horse,  "that  I  might  more  easily  wind 
my  way  through  the  wilderness  to  Georgia."  (Asbury's  Journal, 
Vol.  III.,  pages  293,  294.) 

The  appointments  for  1810,  as  given  in  the  General  Minutes, 
were  as  follows: 

Holstox  District.    Fredrick  Stier,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Thomas  Trower. 
Saltville,  Josiah  Crawford. 
Nollichuckie,  Samuel  H.  Thompson. 
French-Broad,  William  Pattison. 
Clinch,  Samuel  Heliums. 
Powell's  Valley,  John  Brown. 


The  Journal  for  IS10. 


Tennessee  Valley,  Thomas  Heliums. 
Carter's  Valley,  Richard  Richards. 

Cumberland  District.    Learner  Blackman,  P.  Elder. 

Nashville,  William  B.  Elgin. 

Red  River,  James  Gwinn. 

Roaring  River,  Samuel  King. 

Livingston,  Peter  Cartwright. 

Hartford,  Marcus  Lindsey. 

Duck  River,  Lewis  Anderson. 

Elk,  James  Axley. 

Dixon,  John  Manley. 

Richland,  John  Cragg. 

Goose  Creek,  John  Page. 

Henderson,  John  Lewis. 

St.  Vincennes,  Thomas  Stilwell. 

Flint,  John  Phipps. 

Cash  Creek,  Thomas  Kirkman. 

Kentucky  District.   John  Sale,  P.  Elder. 

Limestone,  Samuel  C.  Griffin,  Matthew  Nelson. 
Fleming,  Caleb  J.  Taylor. 
Licking,  James  Leach. 

Lexington,  C.  Holliday,  E.  Truitt,  Caleb  W.  Cloud. 
Hinkstone,  Henry  McDaniel,  Henry  Mallory. 
Sandy  River,  John  Johnson. 

Green  River  District.   William  Burke,  P.  Elder. 

Green  River,  John  Travis,  John  Crane. 
Barren,  Samuel  Sellers. 
Wayne,  Nathan  Pullum. 
Cumberland,  Samuel  West. 
Danville,  Thos.  Lasley,  Baker  Wrather. 
Salt  River,  Banjamin  Edge. 
Shelby,  James  Ward,  James  Blair. 
Silver  Creek,  Isaac  Lindsey. 

Mississippi  District.   Miles  Harper,  P.  Elder. 

Natchez  and  Washington,  Isaac  Quinn. 
Wilkinson,  William  Houston. 

Natchez  Circuit,  Sela  Paine,  Fredrick  D.  Wimberly. 
Claiborne,  John  Henninger. 
Amit,  Hezekiah  Shaw, 


190 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Rapids,  Thomas  Nelson. 
Washataw,  John  Jennings. 
Attakapas,  William  Winans. 

Indiana  District.    Samuel  Parker,  p.  Elder. 

Illinois,  Daniel  Fraley. 
Missouri,  Thomas  Wright. 
Maramack,  John  McFarland. 
Cold  Water,  George  A.  Colbert. 
Cape  Girardeau,  Jesse  Walker. 

Miami  District.   Solomon  Langclon,  P.  Elder. 

Cincinnati,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Wm.  Young. 

Mad  River,  John  Clingan. 

Union,  John  Collins. 

Scioto,  Saul  Henkle,  Stephen  Timmons. 

Deer  Creek,  Ralph  Lotspeich,  Joseph  Haines. 

Enon,  Walter  Griffith. 

Pickaway,  Alexander  Cummins,  James  McMehan. 
White  Oak,  Isaac  Pavey. 
White  Water,  Moses  Crume. 
Delaware,  Robert  Cloud. 

Muskingum  District.   James  Quinn,  P.  Elder. 

Fairfield,  Francis  Travis. 

Wills  Creek,  John  Strange,  Jacob  Mills. 

West  Wheeling,  William  Lambden,  Michael  Ellis. 

Marietta,  David  Young,  Vivian  Daniels. 

Little  Kanawha,  John  Holmes. 

Guyandott,  Jacob  Turman. 

Letart  Falls,  Joseph  Pigott. 

Knox,  James  B.  Finley. 

Tuscarawa,  James  Dixon. 

Detroit,  William  Mitchell. 


XII. 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  WESTERN  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE 
BEGUN  &  HELD  AT  CINCINNATI,  STATE  OF  OHIO, 
OCTR.  1ST,  1811.1* 

Members. 
Those  marked  *  were  absent. 
Francis  Asbury  John  Clingon 

William  McKendree  John  Collins 

Presidents    Saul  Hinkle* 


pawner  Jt>iacKman 

xi-tiipii  XiOLojjcicn 

John  Sale 

IVXOhtiS   \jL  Ulilt5 

William  "RitpIt 
VV  lllldLU    X)  111  IV 

TninAa     Mm  "»i  1 1 

o  ames  i^umn 

\J  tx  V  111     X  U  U  llg 

©amuei  x arKer 

Tr»lin     H  nl  m  oe* 

X1  It?Ucl  ILK.  kSLlcl 

William  Mitrhpll 

VV  llllcllll  IVXllCllcll 

lvines  xiarper 

Vj  1 1 iSIl cl     VV  .    X»U  VV  lllcl  11 

Solomon  Langdon 

eJ  Oilll  lVXLl_/lUie 

x.  X/lUclo 

o  01111  vjldlltJ 

i  nos.  i  rower 

Ha  ml  T^'itirr* 
OdlHl  XVlllg 

>>  llllcUXl  xdLLcIoUll 

o  onn  i^ragg 

Thos.  Heliums 

Josiah  Crawford* 

James  Gwin* 

Hezekiah  Shaw 

xeter  oarT/vvrigni 

John  Henninger 

j  ames  ixxiey 

dacoo  lurman 

John  Page* 

inos.  otiiweu 

TTptitv  TVToll  ot*v* 

Caleb  W.  Cloud 

William  Young* 

John  Travis 

William  Lambdin 

Sam.l  Sellars 

Richard  Richards 

Thos.  Lasley 

John  Johnston 

Benjn.  Edge 

Eli  Truitt 

James  Ward 

Thos.  Kirkman 

Isaac  Quinn* 

William  Winans* 

William  Houston* 

John  Lewis 

Sela  Payne* 

William  B.  Elgin 

Jesse  Walker 

Isaac  Lindsey 

Benjn.  Lakjn 

James  Blair 

192  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Tuesday  Morning  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  proceed  to  Elect  a  Secretary  by  bal- 
lot.   Lawner  Blackman  was  accordingly  Elected. 

On  motion  Resolved  that  the  Conference  meet  at  9 
o'clock  &  adjourn  at  12  o'clock.  Meet  again  at  2  o'clock 
— adjourn  at  5  o'clock. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  Elect  by  ballot  a  com- 
mittee of  appropriation  &  James  Quinn,  David  Young, 
Samuel  Parker,  Frederick  Stier  &  T.  Stilwell  were 
found  to  be  duly  Elected. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  elect  by  an  open  vote 
a  book  committee.  Robt.  Cloud,  Thos.  Heliums  &  Wm. 
B.  Elgin  were  nominated  &  duly  elected.  The  Chair 
called  for  the  reading  of  the  rules  adopted  for  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Conference  while  sitting. — The  Secretary 
proceeded  to  read  them.  The  Conference  adopted  sd. 
Rules  without  amendment. 

Tuesd.  Afternoon  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  take  up  &  answer  the 
3rd  Question.  Who  are  to  be  admitted  into  full  con- 
nection? Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  examine  the  fol- 
lowing persons  who  stood  eligible  for  admission — And 
John  Manley,  Saml.  Heliums,  Charles  Holliday,  Thos. 
Nelson,  Saml.  Thompson,  John  Brown,  Francis  Travis, 
Saml.  West,  James  B.  Finley,  Alexander  Cummins,  & 
Henry  McDaniel  were  admitted  into  full  connection  & 
elected  to  the  Office  of  Deacons.  Charles  Holliday  was 
elected  (was  elected)  to  the  office  of  an  Elder.  He  was 
in  Deacons  orders  when  admitted  on  trial. 

Michael  Ellis  &  John  Page  admitted  into  full  con- 
nection. 

Stephen  Timmons's  case  was  considered  &  he  discon- 
tinued. 

Saml.  King  was  admitted  into  full  connection. 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


193 


Henry  McDaniel  admitted  into  full  connection  Elect- 
ed to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Wednesday  9  O'clock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  received  the  accounts  from  the 
Preachers  individually  of  the  Monies  they  received  the 
last  year  on  their  different  Circuit  &  likewise  to  ex- 
amine the  accounts  of  the  Bishops  &  Presiding  Elders. 
The  Conference  proceeded  to  make  a  draft  on  the  Book 
Concern  for  300  Dollars  &  on  the  Chartered  fund  for 
100  Dollars  Proceeded  to  receive  the  monies  sent  on 
from  Nashville  5  Dollars,  Hochocking  5  Dollars,  Union 
10  Dollars,  West  Wheeling  7  $  19  Cents. 

The  case  of  William  Young  was  considered  &  in  Con- 
sequence of  his  great  debility  of  body  voted  that  he 
should  stand  on  the  Minutes  among  the  Superanuated 
&  worn  out  Preachers. 

Lewis  Anderson,  William  Lambdin,  Richard  Rich- 
ards, Eli  Truit,  John  Johnston,  Thos.  Kirkman  &  John 
Lewis,  examined  before  the  Conference  &  found  good. 

Eli  Truit  requested  a  Location  (a  location)  the  Con- 
ference granted  him  a  location. 

Wednesday  2  O'clock  Bishop  Asbury  President. 

The  Conference  Proceeded  to  the  Election  of  Local 
Preachers.  Michael  Rouse  a  Local  Preacher  from  the 
Licking  Circuit  was  Elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

Jonathan  Wilson  a  Local  Preacher  from  Lexington 
Circuit,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

John  Vice,  Absalom  Hunt,  David  Anderson,  &  John 
Evans,  Local  Preachers  from  Hinkstone  Circuit  was 
elected  to  the  Office  of  Deacons. 

James  Griffin  a  Local  Preacher  from  Claborn  circuit 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Robert  Dongan  a  Local  Preacher  from  the  Flint  Cir- 
cuit elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 
13 


194  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Samuel  Harvey  a  Local  Preacher  from  Henderson 
Circuit  was  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

Thos.  Taylor  a  Local  Preacher  from  the  Hartford 
circuit  was  duly  recommended;  but  not  elected  by  the 
Conference. 

Benjn.  McReynolds  a  Local  Preacher  from  Christian 
Ct.  duly  recommended  but  not  elected  by  the  Confer- 
ence in  Consequence  of  his  not  having  complied  with 
the  rule  with  regard  to  a  Negroe  man  he  holds  as  a 
Slave. 

Movd.  by  William  Burk  &  seconded  by  L.  Blackman 
that  it  be  Stated  to  Benjn.  McReynolds  by  word  or 
Letter  the  reason  of  his  rejection.  Put  to  vote  &  Car- 
ried. Movd.  by  L.  Blackman  &  seconded  by  James 
Quinn  that  the  Presiding  Elder  who  shall  have  charge 
where  Benjn.  McReynolds  lives,  be  the  person  who  shall 
give  him  the  information  voted  by  conference  &  like- 
wise  make  some  statements  to  Thos.  Taylor  of  the 
reason  of  his  rejection  put  to  vote  &  carried. 

John  Gray  a  Local  Preacher  from  White  Water  cir- 
cuit was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

John  Clark  a  local  Preacher  from  Cincinnatti  Ct. 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Jacob  Delay  a  Local  Preacher  from  Pickaway  Ct. 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Adbel  Coleman  a  Local  preacher  from  Cincinnatti 
Ct.  was  elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

Joshua  Holland  a  Local  Preacher  from  White  Water 
Ct.  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

Thursday  9  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  proceeded  with  the  election  of  Local 
Preachers. 

Samuel  Brown  a  Local  Preacher  from  Barren  Circuit 
was  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


195 


John  Clark  a  Local  Preacher  from  Cincinnatti  Cir- 
cuit was  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

Joseph  Stockton  a  local  Preacher  from  White  Oak 
not  elected. 

Keuben  Row  a  Local  Preacher  from  Deer  Creek  Cir- 
cuit elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

William  Kermes  a  Local  Preacher  from  West  Union 
Circuit  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

Benjamin  Spry  a  Local  Preacher  from  Wills  Creek 
Circuit  elected  to  the  Office  of  a  Deacon. 

George  Akin  a  local  Preacher  from  French  Broad 
Circuit  not  elected. 

The  case  of  Edward  Scott  a  Local  Preacher  fr3m 
Chillicothe  before  the  Conference  who  appealed  from 
the  decision  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of 
Deer  Creek  circuit  who  had  suspended  him  from  Official 
Services  in  the  Ohurch.  The  Charges  being  read  for 
which  sd  Scott  was  suspended.  He  proceeded  to  State 
the  reason  why  he  appealed  &  to  make  his  defence  be- 
fore the  Conference.  The  minutes  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  Conference  were  read  &  laid  before  this  Con- 
ference. 

Thursday  2  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  resumed  the  case  of  Edward  Scotts 
Appeal  Thos.  Scott  &  Thos.  Hinds  members  of  the  Quar- 
ter Meeting  held  for  Deer  Creek  Ct.  proceeded  to  make 
some  Statements  relative  to  the  Appeal  the  Question 
was  called  for,  but  the  previous  question  being  call'd 
for,  was  carried  without  debate  &  lost. 

The  main  Question  was  then  called  for  which  was 
stated  as  follows,  Shall  we  or  Shall  we  not  confirm  the 
Judgement  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference?  The 
vote  being  taken  in  the  positive;  The  Judgement  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  was  confirmed. 


196  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

The  Conference  Proceeded  in  the  examination  of  the 
Deacons;  &  William  B.  Elgin  &  Isaac  Lindsey  was  ex- 
amined— no  charges  against  them. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  examine  the  Character 
of  those  who  were  eligible  for  Elders  orders,  John  Cragg 
Elected  to  the  Office  of  an  Elder. 

Josiah  Crawford  not  elected  in  consequence  of  some 
charges  stated  against  him  by  James  Axley. 

Hezekiah  Shaw  not  elected — he  requested  a  Location. 
The  Conference  granted  him  a  Location. 

John  Henninger,  Jacob  Turman,  &  Thos.  Stilwell 
elected  to  the  Office  of  Elders. 

Movd.  and  seconded  that  the  Conference  meet  on  Fri- 
day morning  at  8  Oclock  put  to  vote  &  carried. 

Friday  8  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

Movd.  by  Solomon  Langdon  seconded  by  William 
Burk  that  the  case  of  Edward  Scott  be  reconsidered 
the  Question  was  taken  in  the  affirmative.  Carried. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
characters  of  the  Preachers  who  remain  on  trial. 

John  McFarland  and  Matthew  Nelson  continued  on 
trial.  The  Conference  took  up  &  reconsidered  the  case 
of  Edward  Scott.  Some  statements  were  made.  The 
Questions  was  called  for.  But  the  previous  question 
being  call'd  for  was  taken  without  debate  Lost.  The 
main  Question  was  then  stated  whether  this  Conference 
set  aside  the  Judgement  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Con- 
ference or  not  put  to  vote  Carried  against  the  Judge- 
ment of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference. 

Friday  3  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

Samuel  Parker  from  the  Committee  of  Appropriation 
proceeded  to  report.  Which  report  was  received  by 
the  Conference,  as  follows: 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


197 


The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Appropriations. 


(Viz)  Deficiencies   

To  meet  the  above  Difficiencies 

Draft  on  the  book  concern  $300  

Draw  on  the  Charter  fund  

Extra  Collections,  Hockhochking  Ct 

Nashville  Circuit   

Union  Circuit  

West  Wheeling  Ct  


D.  Cnt. 
3,042  6iy2 


300  00 
100  00 

5 

5 


00 
00 


10  00 
7  19 


427  19 

Money  Money 
Received.  Appropriated. 


Cnt. 


Francis  Asbury  

Wm.  McKendree  

Wm.  Burk   

John  Sale   

Lawner  Blackman  

James  Quinn  

Samuel  Parker  

Frederick  Stier   

Miles  Harper  

Solomon  Langdon  

Thos.  Trower   

William  Patterson   

Thos.  Heliums   

James  Gwin   

Peter  Cartwright,  9  months 

James  Axley  

John  Page   

Thos.  Stilwell   

Henry  Mallory  

Caleb  H.  Cloud  

John  Travis   

Samuel  Sellers  

Thos.  Lasley   

Benjn.  Edge   

James  Ward   

Isaac  Quinn   

William  Houston  

Sela  Payn  

Jesse  Walker  

Benjn.  Lakin  

John  Clingon   

John  Collins   

Saul  Hinkle   

John  Manly  

Francis  Travis  

John  Brown  

Charles  Holliday   

Frederick  D.  Wimberly  

John  Jennings   


140  02 
170  33 
80  00 
114  00 

80*66 

124  02 
70  00 
80  00 
54  95 
95  00 
18  31 
44  42 
80  00 
13  12% 
83  12 


40  25 
37  00 
80  00 
67  00 
118  75 


32  00 
151  05 
80  00 
134  52 
160  00 
52  07 
57  00 
80  00 
160  00 


Cnt. 

31  00 
10  00 


26  69 
16*88 


28  00 


198 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


John  McFarland   

Matthew  Nelson   

Baker  Rather  

James  Dixon  

Jacob  Mills,  6  months 

Thos.  Wright   

James  G.  Leach   

Joseph  Haines   

Walter  Griffith   

T.  Lotspeich   

Moses  Crume  

Robt.  Cloud   

David  Young   

John  Holmes   

William  Mitchell  

E.  W.  Bowman  

John  Crane   , 

John  McClure  

Samuel  King   

John  Cragg   

Josiah  Crawford   

Hezekiah  Shaw   

John  Henninger  , 

Jacob  Turman   

William  Young  

Lewis  Anderson   

William  Lambdin  

Richard  Richards 

John  Johnston   

Eli  Truitt,  4%  months 

Thos.  Kirkman  

William  Winans  

John  Lewis  

William  B.  Elgin  

Isaac  Lindsey  

James  Blair,  5  months 

James  B.  Finley  

Thos.  Nelson   

Saml.  West   

Alex.  Cummins   

Saml.  Heliums   

Saml.  H.  Thompson  . . 

Henry  McDaniel  

Thos.  A.  King   

Saml.  S.  Griffin   

Daniel  Fraley  

John  Strange   

James  McMahan   

Michael  Ellis  

Joseph  Piggott  

Vivion  Daniel   ... 


Money  Money 
Received.  Appropriated. 
D.    Cnt.       D.  Cnt. 


11  00 

80  00 
80  00 
41  70 
10  00 
50  00 


75  00 
167  00 
50  64 
48  39 
40  13 
160  00 
30  00 
19  53 
45  00 


80  00 
50  00 
80  00 

25  00 
80  00 
37  47 
18  10 

61  00 
130  00 

62  10 
41  00 
29  00 
15  00 

22*66 
80  00 
52  50 

26  00 
95  09 

5666 

90  00 
80  00 
67  37 
83  12 
44  42 
61  19 

62*20 
41  00 
130  00 
20  00 
24  00 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


199 


Caleb  J.  Taylor  . . 

Isaac  Davey   

Marcus  Lindsey  . . 
George  A.  Calvert 
Nathan  Pullum  . . 
John  Phipps   


Yet  in  reserve 
Public  Collection 
Collection  Preachers 
John  Sale 


Necessitous  cases 
Saml.  Lewis 
John  Johnston 
Marcus  Lindsey 
John  Cragg 
George  Calvert 
Jacob  Turman 
Wm.  Mitchell 


Money  Money 
Received.  Appropriated. 
D.     Cnt.     D.  Cnt. 

66  00 
160  00 


$  31  00 
52  37 
36  66 
10  00 

$130  03 

Doll 
15  00 
17  00 


John  Hennigar 
Thos.  Wright 
Jesse  Walker 
Wm.  Young 
Alex.  Cummins 
Danl.  Fraley 
S.  Parker 
P.  Stilwell 
John  Strange 
John  McFarland 
E.  W.  Bowman 


387  62 


3 
15 
10 
12 


00 
00 
40 
75 
6  00 


00 
70 
00 
00 
00 
00 


78  86 
53  00 


53  00  $133  86 

The  Conference  resumed  the  examination  of  those 
who  remain  on  trial.  Baker  Rather,  James  Dixon, 
Thomas  Wright,  Walter  Griffith,  Thos.  A.  King,  John 
Phipps,  Daniel  Fraley,  John  Strang,  James  McMahan, 
Caleb  J.  Taylor,  Isaac  Pavey,  Marcus  Lindsey,  &  George 
A.  Calvert.   All  continued  on  trial. 

Sat.  9  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  case  of  James  Blair  before  the  Conference  &  con- 
tinued by  adjournment  during  Mond.  &  Tuesday  till 
12  Oclock  at  which  time  the  final  decision  took  place. 

The  Committee  who  examined  his  Case  Last  April 
before  William  Burk  Presented  14  charges  Three  of 
which  the  9th.  10th.  &  11th  for  want  of  proper  testimo- 
ny was  not  acted  on  by  the  Committee. 


200  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Decisions  of  the  Conference  Against  Blair. 

Charge  the  3rd.  the  Conference  confirm  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee. 

Charge  4,  Guilty  of  imprudent  conduct. 

Charge  5th.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Conference  that  the  con- 
duct of  J.  Blair  as  it  relates  to  the  above  charge  was  highly- 
imprudent  &  his  observations  about  Miss  ....  was  highly  im- 
proper. 

Charge  6th.  Conference  voted  his  conduct  improper. 
Charges  13th.  Conference  voted  him  guilty. 

Palliating  Considerations. 

1.  The  irregularity  of  the  Process  at  the  beginning — having 
been  in  public. 

2.  Want  of  Specification.  Consequently  the  charges  could  not 
be  assertained  till  Testimony  was  examined  &  thus  it  appeared 
that  some  of  the  charges  were  supported  by  a  single  witness  & 
that  witness  was  the  accuser. 

3rd.  Some  Charges  originated  in  Private  conversation  some 
from  his  exercise  in  congregations  in  open  day — when  the  work 
of  God  was  going  powerfully  among  the  People. 

4.  The  time  when  the  testimony  was  taken  was  at  a  Crisis 
when  there  was  considerable  agitation  &  much  irritation  among 
the  People  witnesses  &  Parties  this  was  plainly  manifested. 

The  Conference  after  duly  &  deliberately  weighing 
all  those  charges  &  circumstances  taken  together  voted 
his  Suspension  from  all  official  services  in  our  Church.- 

Tuesd.  2  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  answer  the  question, 
Who  are  admitted  on  Trial? 

Kentucky  District. 
John  Cord  from  Limestone,  John  Colleman  from 
Flemming  Circuit,  Francis  Landrin  from  Fleming  Ct. 
Jonathan  Stamper  from  Lexington  Ct.  all  admitted. 
Stephen  Grimes  from  Hinkston  Ct.  rejected.  But  on 
motion  of  James  Ward  the  Conference  granted  the 
Presiding  Elder  liberty  to  employ  him  if  he  should 
think  Proper. 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


201 


Miami  District. 

Elias  Turner  from  Scioto  Ct.  a  married  man  ad- 
mitted, Jesse  Spurgion  from  Pickaway  Ct.  a  married 
man  admitted,  Henry  Jefferson  from  Scioto  Ot.  rejected, 
James  Holmes  from  White  Water  circuit  Do.  Soda 
Bacon  from  Delaware  Ct.  rejected,  P.  E.  obtained  leave 
to  employ  him.  Robt.  W.  Finley  from  West  Union  cir- 
cuit a  married  man  admitted. 

Green  River  District. 

Joseph  Oglesby  from  Jefferson  Ct.  a  married  man  ad- 
mitted, on  Motion  of  Wm.  Burk  admitted  into  full  con- 
nection.  Charles  Bonwell  from  Salt  River  Ct.  admitted. 

Hols  ton  District. 

George  Akins  from  French  Broad  Circuit  married  & 
admitted. 

Benj.  Rotin  from  French  Broad  Ct.  admitted. 

Jesse  Cunningham  from  French  Broad,  Richard  Conn 
from  French  Broad  Ct.  admitted. 

Thos.  D.  Porter  from  Nolichuckie  admitted. 

The  Conference  Proceeded  to  the  examination  of  the 
Character  of  D.  Wimberly  &  John  Jennings  admitted 
into  full  connection  &  elected  to  the  order  of  Deacons. 

Muskingum  District. 
William  Dixon  from  Little  Kanawha  admitted,  Charles 
Waddle  from  Wills  Creek  Ct.  admitted,  William  Mc- 
Mahan  from  Marietta  admitted. 

Wed.  9  Oclock  Bishop  McKendreb  President. 
John  McMahan  from  Marietta  Ct.  admitted. 

Illinois  District. 
Larry  Killibrew  from  Missouri  Ct.  rejected,  on  Mo- 
tion of  the  P.  E.  the  Conference  granted  the  P.  Elder 
liberty  to  employ  him  if  he  should  think  proper. 


202  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 

Cumberland  District. 

Samuel  Bellamy  from  Red  River  Ct.  admitted. 
David  Goodner  from  Hartford  Ct.  admitted. 
Shadrach  B.  Carter  from  Duck  River  circuit  admit- 
ted. 

William  Hart  from  Red  River  circuit  admitted,  Saml. 
S.  Lewis  from  Christian  Ct. 

Joseph  Foulks  from  Livingston  Ct.  admitted. 

The  case  of  Marcus  Lindsey  who  remains  on  trial 
was  considered  who  was  wanted  to  fill  the  Missionary 
Station  on  Sandy  in  consequence  of  which  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon. 

The  case  of  Thos.  Trower  was  considered  who  re- 
quested a  Location  the  Conference  granted  it. 

Henry  Mallory's  case  was  considered  who  requested 
a  location  the  Conference  granted  it. 

Saul  Hinkle's  case  was  considered  who  requested  a 
Location.   The  Conference  granted  it. 

Saul  Hinkle's  case  was  considered  who  requested  a 
Location.    The  Conference  granted  it. 

John  McClure's  case  was  considered,  William  Burk 
motioned  that  John  McClure  be  continued  in  his  re- 
lation to  this  conference  as  a  Superanuated  &  worn  out 
Preacher  put  to  vote  carried. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  decide  whether  they 
should  send  their  delegates  to  General  Conference  by 
Seignority  or  by  election,  put  to  vote  carried  in  favor 
of  sending  them  by  election. 

Wed.  2  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

Mov'd  by  William  Burk  seconded  by  John  Sale  that 
the  Case  of  Edward  Tiffins  appeal  be  admitted.  Put 
to  vote  conference  admitted  it. 

Mov'd  by  William  Burk  &  Seconded  by  James  Quinn 
that  it  be  laid  over  as  unfinished  business.    The  Ques- 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


203 


tion  was  calFd  for  &  taken  without  debate.  Lost.  The 
main  question  was  taken — earned  in  the  affirmative. 

The  Conference  voted  that  they  elect  the  Delegates 
for  General  Conference  by  Ballot.  The  Conference  Pro- 
ceeded to  make  their  election  the  following  persons 
were  duly  elected:  Samuel  Parker,  David  Young,  John 
Sale,  James  Quinn,  L.  Blackman,  F.  Stier,  John  Collins, 
Jas.  Ward,  B.  Lakin,  James  Axley,  Wm.  Patterson, 
Isaac  Quinn  &  Wm.  Houston. 

Thursd.  9  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

The  Conference  examined  the  Character  of  the  Eld- 
ers one  by  one. 

The  case  of  Samuel  Sellars  who  owned  a  negro  Slave 
of  14  years  old.  he  agreed  to  submit  to  the  advice  of  a 
committee  one  chosen  by  himself  and  the  other  by  the 
Conference — the  Committee  reported  as  follows: 

We  the  committee  appointed  in  the  case  of  S.  Sellars  are  of 
oppinion  that  the  Black  boy  shall  serve  him  until  he  be  22 
years  of  age.  Wm.  Burk, 

F.  Stier. 

Thursday  2  Oclock  Bishop  McKendree  President. 

Bishop  Asbury  proceeded  to  examine  the  Preachers 
who  had  been  admitted  on  trial. 

The  case  of  Robt.  Cloud — as  there  were  some  difficul- 
ties the  last  year  in  Consequence  of  which  Solomon 
Langdon  &  the  Preacher  of  Fairfield  Circuit  were  ap- 
pointed to  make  enquiry  in  Robert  Cloud's  case  &  re- 
port to  this  Conference  See  Page  88. 

The  case  of  E.  W.  Bowman — There  were  objections 
stated  against  him  for  wearing  weapons  calculated  to 
inspire  terror  &  for  threatening  what  he  would  do.  The 
question  called  for  &  stated  Whether  the  conduct  as  it 
respected  the  above  circumstances  of  E.  W.  Bowman 
be  disproved  of  or  not  put  to  vote  carried  in  the  affirma- 
tive that  such  conduct  be  disapproved  of. 


204  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Friday  9  Oclock  Bishop  McKexdree  President. 

The  Conference  proceeded  to  answer  the  Question, 
Where  shall  the  next  Conference  be  held?  nominated 
Fountain  Head  Sumner  County  Tennessee  &  Chillicothe, 
Provided  the  Western  Conference  be  divided  by  the 
General  Conference.  Voted  that  the  Lower  Conference 
be  held  at  the  Fountain  Head  on  the  10th.  of  Nov.  1812, 
And  that  the  Upper  Conference  be  held  at  Chilicothe 
on  the,  October  1st.  1812. 

Friday  2  Oclock  Bishop  McKexdree  President. 

The  case  of  Edward  Tiffin  a  local  Preacher  came  be- 
fore the  Conference — who  appealed  from  the  Judgement 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  Conference  of  Deer  Creek  Cir- 
cuit. Joseph  S.  Collins  from  Chilicothe  made  some 
statements  proving  the  illegality  of  the  Proceedings  in 
the  Process  of  the  trial  of  Edward  Tiffin.  The  Confer- 
ence left  it  with  the  Episcopacy  to  decide  whether  the 
proceedings  were  consistant  with  the  Methodist  Dis- 
cipline or  not.  It  was  decided  by  the  Episcopacy  that 
The  Q  Committee  was  not  conformable  to  the  laws  of 
religion  that  the  case  of  Edward  Tiffin  ought  not  to 
have  been  submited  to  the  Q  Committe  therefore  its 
improper  for  it  to  come  before  this  Conference. 

The  case  of  W.  Winans  considered.  Charges  pre- 
fered  against  him,  but  as  he  was  not  present  his  case 
was  laid  over  till  he  can  return  from  the  Mississippi 
District. 

James  Ward  stated  he  could  not  with  Propriety  go 
to  the  General  Conference.  In  consequence  of  which 
the  Conference  elect  Thos.  Stilwell  to  take  his  place. 

The  Conference  Decided  that  if  no  division  be  made 
in  the  Western  Annual  Conference  that  the  Preachers 
all  meet  at  Chilicothe  October  1st.  1812. 

L.  Blackman,  Secretary.  W.  McKexdree. 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


205 


Note  12. — The  annual  tour  of  the  circuits  and  Conferences 
brought  Bishop  Asbury  early  in  September,  1811,  into  Ohio, 
bound  for  the  Western  Conference  to  convene  in  Cincinnati.  He 
finds  camp  meetings  going  on  in  many  of  the  circuits  and  he 
preaches  frequently  in  the  camps.  At  Springfield  he  preaches, 
but  his  service  is  interrupted  by  a  general  muster  of  militia. 
At  Dayton  he  preaches  in  the  courthouse,  where  about  a  thou- 
sand hearers  assembled.  He  mentions  finding  many  old  ac- 
quaintances in  Ohio  whom  he  had  known  in  the  older  States. 
At  Lebanon  he  helps  the  people  plan  for  a  new  church  of  brick, 
to  be  forty  by  sixty  feet.  He  arrives  in  Cincinnati  on  September 
27,  and  on  the  Sunday  following  ordains  twenty  preachers, 
among  them  James  B.  Finley.  Great  crowds  attended  the  Con- 
ference, for  he  tells  us,  "We  occupied  the  market-house  as  well 
as  the  chapel."  He  states,  "I  had  little  trouble  about  the  sta- 
tions— I  heard  of  no  complaints.  There  were  one  hundred  and 
two  preachers:  one  hundred  of  whom  are  stationed:  we  lack 
twenty-two."    (Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pages  316-318.) 

The  appointments  for  1811,  as  given  in  the  General  Minutes, 
were  as  follows: 

Hoiston  Distbict.   Frederick  Stier,  P.  Elder. 

Holston,  Lewis  Anderson,  Jesse  Cunningham. 

Nollichuckie,  Samuel  Sellers. 

French-Broad,  George  Elkins,  Josiah  Crawford. 

Clinch,  Sam'l  Thompson,  Rich.  Conn. 

Powell's  Valley,  Thomas  A.  King. 

Carter's  Valley,  John  Henninger. 

Tennessee  Valley,  William  B.  Elgin. 

Cumberland  District.    James  Guinn,  P.  Elder. 

Red  River  and  Goose  Creek,  Isaac  Lindsey,  John  Manley,  John 

A.  Lewis. 
Roaring  River,  Thomas  Kirkman. 
Wayne,  John  Phipps. 
Somerset,  Shadrach  B.  A.  Carter. 
Green  River,  James  Dixon. 
Barren,  Richard  Richards. 

Nashville  District.    Learner  Blackman,  P.  Elder. 

Dixon,  John  Cragg. 
Duck  River,  John  Crane. 

Richland  and  Flint,  Thomas  Stilwell,  David  Goodner. 


206 


The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  the  West. 


Elk,  Joseph  Foulks,  Samuel  Belamy. 
Cany  Fork,  John  Page. 
Nashville,  Samuel  King. 

Wabash  Disteict.   James  Axley,  P.  Elder. 

St.  Vincennes,  Jacob  Turman. 
Patoka,  Benjamin  Edge. 
Cash  River,  Baker  Wrather. 
Livingston,  John  Travis. 
Christian,  Peter  Cartwright. 
Henderson,  William  Hart. 
Hartford,  Francis  Travis. 

Kentucky  District.    John  Sale,  P.  Elder. 

Sandy  River,  Marcus  Lindsey. 

Limestone,  Henry  McDaniel,  Caleb  J.  Taylor. 

Fleming,  Samuel  Heliums. 

Licking,  Thomas  D.  Porter. 

Lexington,  Chas.  Holliday,  John  Stamper. 

Hinkstone,  Matthew  Nelson,  Benjamin  Rhoten. 

Salt  River  District.  James  Ward,  P.  Elder. 

Danville,  Thomas  Lasley,  John  Caliman. 

Cumberland,  Thomas  Heliums. 

Madison,  Thomas  Nelson. 

Salt  River,  Joseph  Oglesby. 

Shelby,  William  Pattison. 

Jefferson,  Charles  Bonwell. 

Silver  Creek,  William  McMehan. 

Mississippi  District.   Samuel  Dunwody,  P.  Elder. 

Wilkinson,  Sela  Paine,  Lewis  Hobbs. 
Natchez,  John  Johnson,  Samuel  Lewis. 
Claiborne,  John  W.  Kennon. 
Amit,  William  Winans. 
Rapids,  Fredrick  D.  Wimberly. 
Washataw,  Thomas  Griffin. 
Attakapas,  John  S.  Ford. 
Tombeckbee,  Wm.  Houston,  Isaac  Quinn. 
New  Orleans,  Miles  Harper. 

Illinois  District.    Samuel  Parker,  P.  Elder. 

Illinois,  Jesse  Walker,  George  A.  Colbert. 
Missouri,  John  Cord. 


The  Journal  for  1811. 


Maramack,  Thomas  Wright. 
Cold  Water,  Daniel  Fraley. 
Cape  Girardeau,  John  McFarland. 

Miami  District.    Solomon  Langdon,  P.  Elder. 

Cincinnati,  William  Burke,  John  Strange. 

Mad  River  and  Xenia,  John  Collins,  Moses  Crume. 

Scioto,  Ralph  Lotspeich. 

Deer  Creek,  Robert  Cloud,  Chas.  Waddle. 

Lawrenceburg,  Walter  Griffin. 

Pickaway,  James  McMehan. 

White  Oak,  Benjamin  Lakin,  Eli  Turner. 

Salt  Creek,  Jesse  Spurgeon. 

White  Water,  Robert  W.  Finley. 

Delaware,  Alexander  Cummins. 

Bush  Creek,  Isaac  Pavey. 

Muskingum  District.   James  Quinn,  P.  Elder. 

Fairfield,  Isaac  Quinn,  James  B.  Finley. 
Marietta,  David  Young,  Thomas  Branch. 
Little  Kanawha,  John  Brown. 
Guyandott,  Samuel  West. 
Letart  Falls,  William  Nixon. 
Knox,  Elisha  W.  Bowman. 
Tuscarawas,  William  Mitchell. 


DATE  DUE 

It  

■ 

GAYLORD 

PRINTED  IN  U.S.A. 

